Chateau Bourbon
Encyclopedia
Chateau Bourbon is a hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
On October 15, 1849, Daniel Henry Holmes
established the D.H. Holmes department store, which went on to become a very significant part of New Orleans history. Situated on Canal Street
for 140 years, the store became a French Quarter
landmark, and was known as one of the most successful retail establishments in the country. In 1989, the Dillard's
Department Store chain bought D.H. Holmes.
The City of New Orleans and Historic Restoration Inc. joined together to turn the building into a luxury hotel
. Initially, the hotel was named “Chateau Sonesta” when it opened in 1995 but was renamed “Chateau Bourbon” when it was acquired by the Wyndham
Chain in 2008
The D.H. Holmes department store achieved some notoriety due to the fame of the clock on Canal Street
which was in front of the store's building. Under the clock is the life-size sculpture of Ignatius Reilly, financed by Chateau Sonesta (the name of the hotel at the time) and the Downtown Development District. In his Pulitzer prize
winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces
, John Kennedy Toole
, created the character of Ignatius Reilly who meets his mother in front of the clock in the opening scene. The clock went missing about the time D.H. Holmes closed but was returned to the hotel in 1995. The Chateau Bourbon contains a Suite honoring O’Toole as well as Louis Armstrong
& Tennessee Williams
.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
On October 15, 1849, Daniel Henry Holmes
Daniel Henry Holmes
Daniel Henry Holmes was born in the Point Pleasant area of Clermont County, Ohio. Orphaned at age 2, he lacked any formal education...
established the D.H. Holmes department store, which went on to become a very significant part of New Orleans history. Situated on Canal Street
Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
for 140 years, the store became a French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
landmark, and was known as one of the most successful retail establishments in the country. In 1989, the Dillard's
Dillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
Department Store chain bought D.H. Holmes.
The City of New Orleans and Historic Restoration Inc. joined together to turn the building into a luxury hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
. Initially, the hotel was named “Chateau Sonesta” when it opened in 1995 but was renamed “Chateau Bourbon” when it was acquired by the Wyndham
Wyndham
-Localities:*City of Wyndham, an LGA in Victoria, Australia*Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley, a LGA in Western Australia, Australia*Wyndham Hills, Pennsylvania, an opulent community in York County, Pennsylvania, United States*Wyndham, New South Wales...
Chain in 2008
The D.H. Holmes department store achieved some notoriety due to the fame of the clock on Canal Street
Canal Street
Canal Street may refer to:* Canal Street , England, UK* Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA* Canal Street , New York City, New York, USA...
which was in front of the store's building. Under the clock is the life-size sculpture of Ignatius Reilly, financed by Chateau Sonesta (the name of the hotel at the time) and the Downtown Development District. In his Pulitzer prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel written by John Kennedy Toole, published by LSU Press in 1980, 11 years after the author's suicide. The book was published through the efforts of writer Walker Percy and Toole's mother Thelma Toole, quickly becoming a cult classic, and later a...
, John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, best-known for his posthumously published novel A Confederacy of Dunces. He also wrote The Neon Bible. Although several people in the literary world felt his writing skills were praiseworthy, Toole's novels were rejected...
, created the character of Ignatius Reilly who meets his mother in front of the clock in the opening scene. The clock went missing about the time D.H. Holmes closed but was returned to the hotel in 1995. The Chateau Bourbon contains a Suite honoring O’Toole as well as Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
& Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
.