Copley Plaza Hotel

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The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel (or Copley Plaza Hotel as it is generally known) is a four-star hotel in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1912. Fritz Kohn, the grandfather of John Kerry, shot himself in the restroom of this hotel.

Long regarded as a Boston institution, the Copley Plaza Hotel was opened in 1912. Mayor of Boston John F. Fitzgerald, President Kennedy's grandfather, presided over a reception of over 1,000 national dignitaries, civic leaders, captains of industry, and stage and movie stars. So prestigious was The Copley Plaza's opening that rooms had been booked as early as 16 months in advance. The total cost to open the hotel was an extravagant sum of $5.5 million, and as one newspaper noted, "The opening presented to Boston one of the most colorful and brilliant pictures the city has ever seen. It marked a new era in hotel-keeping, not only in Boston, but in the entire country."

The Copley Plaza was built on the original site of the Museum of Fine Arts. Named in honor of John Singleton Copley, the great American painter, it stands with the Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, and Old South Church as one of the architectural jewels of the Copley Square. The hotel's architect was Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also designed other famous hotels, including the Willard Hotel in Washington D.C. and The Plaza in New York City, The Copley Plaza's sister hotel. Though many decades have passed since The Plaza and The Copley Plaza opened, today's visitors would have an experience very similar to visitors in 1912. Much of the classical architecture and decor have been preserved, including the famous back-to-back "P" monogram that appears throughout both hotels today. The seven floor limestone structure combines elements of French and Venetian Rennaisance. The E-shaped building s strongly supported by pilings driven to a depth of 70 feet below the street level.

In 1979, a fire broke out at the Copley Plaza Hotel, in which media mogul Sumner Redstone survived by hanging from a third-story window. His hand was partially paralyzed from the fire.

Then and now, the inside of The Fairmont Copley Plaza has a palatial quality. The sweeping sense of space and opulent decor create a feeling of life lived on a grand scale. In addition to being considered the last word in luxury and comfort, The Fairmont Copley Plaza is also recognized as an innovator in the hotel industry. The hotel is known for these industry firsts: the first hotel completely air-conditioned hotel in Boston, the first hotel with an international reservations system, and the first to accept credit cards.

Since its early days, The Copley Plaza Hotel has been host to many of the world's most distinguished citizens. Every U.S. President since William Howard Taft has visited the hotel. Royalty from Greece, Thailand, Abyssinia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Belgium, Denmark, and England have visited the hotel. Celebrities including Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Dorothy Lewis, Frank Sinatra, and Luciano Pavarotti have also been guests. In addition, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton chose the Copley Plaza for their second honeymoon.

Today, the Copley Plaza remains the epitome of style and luxury. All the guest rooms and suites have been designed and decorated to reflect the grace of a glorious past, but have been updated with contemporary conveniences. The entrance hallway has been called Peacock Alley since the 1920's because of the ongoing parade of the elegantly dressed Bostonians strolling past to attend Tea Dances and social events. The majestic 5,000 square foot lobby boasts a 21-foot high gilded coffered ceiling with matching crystal chandeliers and Italian marble columns.