The Fairmont San Francisco
Encyclopedia
The Fairmont San Francisco is a luxury hotel
at 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill in San Francisco, California
. The hotel was named after mining magnate and U.S. Senator James Graham Fair
(1831-1894), by his daughters Theresa Fair Oelrichs and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt
who built the hotel in his honor. The hotel was the vanguard of the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
chain. The group is now owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, but all the original Fairmont hotels still keep their names.
It has been featured in many films, including Petulia
and The Rock
. Exterior images of the structure were used as stand-ins for the fictional St. Gregory Hotel in the 1983 television series, Hotel
.
The Fairmont San Francisco was added to the National Register of Historic Places
(#02000373) on 17 April 2002.
The hotel was nearly completed before the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Although the structure survived, the interior was heavily damaged by fire, and opening was delayed until 1907. Architect and engineer Julia Morgan
was hired to repair the building because of her then-innovative use of reinforced concrete
, which could produce buildings capable of withstanding earthquakes and other disasters.
. The United Nations Charter
was drafted in the hotel's Garden Room and a plaque at the hotel memorializes the event.
, a historic tiki bar
dating from 1967. In January 2009, the Fairmont’s owners submitted plans for a condo conversion in an adjacent tower, which showed the space where the Tonga Room currently is but did not show the Tonga Room itself. No construction is planned until at least 2012. Meanwhile, a group plans to file an application to make the Tonga Room an official San Francisco landmark.
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in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
at 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The hotel was named after mining magnate and U.S. Senator James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair was the overnight millionaire part-owner of the Comstock Lode, a United States Senator and a colorful real estate and railroad speculator.-Early life:...
(1831-1894), by his daughters Theresa Fair Oelrichs and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt was an American socialite, hotel builder/owner, philanthropist, owner of Fair Stable, a Thoroughbred racehorse operation, and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
who built the hotel in his honor. The hotel was the vanguard of the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a Canadian-based operator of luxury hotels and resorts. Currently, Fairmont operates properties in 18 countries including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, United Kingdom, Monaco, Germany, Switzerland, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, the...
chain. The group is now owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, but all the original Fairmont hotels still keep their names.
It has been featured in many films, including Petulia
Petulia
Petulia is a British drama film directed by Richard Lester. The screenplay by Lawrence B. Marcus is based on the novel Me and the Arch Kook Petulia by John Haase...
and The Rock
The Rock (film)
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San Francisco Bay area. It was directed by Michael Bay and stars Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. It was produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and released through Hollywood Pictures. The film...
. Exterior images of the structure were used as stand-ins for the fictional St. Gregory Hotel in the 1983 television series, Hotel
Hotel (TV series)
Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty....
.
The Fairmont San Francisco was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(#02000373) on 17 April 2002.
1906 Earthquake
Julia Morgan
Julia Morgan was an American architect. The architect of over 700 buildings in California, she is best known for her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California...
was hired to repair the building because of her then-innovative use of reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
, which could produce buildings capable of withstanding earthquakes and other disasters.
United Nations
In 1945, the Fairmont hosted international statesmen for meetings which culminated in the creation of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. The United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
was drafted in the hotel's Garden Room and a plaque at the hotel memorializes the event.
Tonga Room
Among its attractions is the Tonga Room & Hurricane BarTonga Room
The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is a restaurant and tiki bar in the Fairmont San Francisco hotel in San Francisco, California. Named after the South Pacific nation of Tonga, this dining and entertainment venue opened in 1945....
, a historic tiki bar
Tiki bar
A tiki bar is an exotic–themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the "mai tai" or "Zombie cocktail". Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their Tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of primitive tropical...
dating from 1967. In January 2009, the Fairmont’s owners submitted plans for a condo conversion in an adjacent tower, which showed the space where the Tonga Room currently is but did not show the Tonga Room itself. No construction is planned until at least 2012. Meanwhile, a group plans to file an application to make the Tonga Room an official San Francisco landmark.