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137:(later Western International, today Westin) assumed management of the property. During World War II, blocks of rooms were taken over by the U.S. military and the hotel was the scene of many tearful farewells and joyous reunions as troops made their way to and from the Pacific. During the war and in the post-war era, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel become synonymous with San Francisco nightlife thanks to the popularity of the Persian Room and Starlight Room (known then as the Starlite Roof), the 21st floor nightclub that featured dining, dancing and orchestras.
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199:. In July 2020, Kimpton announced that it was considering renaming the hotel, due to Drake's involvement in the slave trade. Pebblebrook announced in February 2021 that they would sell the Sir Francis Drake for $ 157.6 million to the Connecticut-based Northview Hotel Group. The sale closed on April 1, 2021, and the still-shuttered hotel ceased to be managed by Kimpton Hotels as of that day.
270:. News accounts of the time described the hotel's Persian Room lounge as “enveloped in an aura of romance” accented with midnight blue carpets, black-topped tables inlaid with gold, bronze table lamps with colored lights and a spun glass foundation illuminated by constantly changing lights. Room rates at the Drake in these early years started at $ 3.50 per night.
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bought the Sir
Francis Drake in 1970 and assumed management from Western International on December 1, 1970. As the hotel approached its 50th anniversary, an extensive $ 5 million restoration was undertaken – equal to the cost of the original construction. It was begun in 1971 and included uncovering
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28 miles north. Built by
Midwestern hotel developers Leon W. Huckins and John A. Newcomb at a cost of $ 5 million (equivalent to $ 88.7 million in 2023), the hotel's grand opening, on October 23, 1928, attracted a crowd of 10,000 people during a two-day open house, as well as officials like San
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For the past seven decades, the 21st floor
Starlight Room has remained part of the San Francisco nightlife. The club offers 180-degree city and bay views and hosted a long-running drag show brunch on Sundays. In 2019, with a change in management, the Starlight Room was revamped and renamed Lizzie's
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played and banquets were held to celebrate what headlines at the time described as “The last word in hotels” for innovations and amenities such as an indoor golf course, ice water on tap, and radios in every guest room. Another feature was the
Servidor, a panel in the guest room doors which allowed
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laws of the day. If you look closely at the lobby ceiling, you can still see the tiny peepholes that were drilled through the floor to keep a lookout for police. Separately, if you look closely at the upper lobby ceiling and chandelier you will notice a few peculiar holes in the ceiling. These are
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that had been covered in several layers of paint. Completed in 1974, the project also revealed and restored the grand marble staircase and reduced the number of rooms from 600 to 386. During this time, famed doorman and local personality Tom
Sweeney assumed his post at the Drake's entrance in the
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founder Bill
Kimpton saved the iconic hotel in 1993 by forming an investment partnership that purchased the property for $ 22 million (equivalent to $ 46.4 million in 2023). Another $ 9 million was invested to renovate the entire building inside and out and the hotel was renamed the
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Hotel developers
Huckins and Newcomb set out to make the Sir Francis Drake a hotel to impress. Even with exceptional amenities like an indoor golf course, it was ultimately the extravagant interiors that made the hotel famous. Designed to reflect the
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and James "Bing" Davidson, a 24-year-old actor, checked into the hotel together. After a few hours of drinking tragedy struck when
Davidson accidentally fell to his death from the window of 822.
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A Prohibition Room exists just above the elevator lobby and can only be accessed with an elevator stop key. This secret room cannot be found in any of the original
344:"Westin Hotels and Resorts Worldwide - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Westin Hotels and Resorts Worldwide"
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splendor. Banquet rooms, restaurants and guestrooms were equally elegant, accented and accessorized with everything from fine Irish linens to
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in 1938. It was his first hotel outside of Texas. Hilton sold the hotel to industrialist E. B. DeGolia on
December 8, 1941, the day after
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180:. In 2005, Kimpton Hotels sold the hotel to a group of international investors known as SFD Partners, LLC. Their successor, the
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players. Prohibition was repealed in 1933 and in 1936, the hotel opened a supper club on the street level that became a popular
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nightspot featuring dancing, dramatic lighting and murals painted by A.B. Heinsbergen. Legendary San
Francisco columnist
571:"@Steph_In_Texas Thanks for reaching out, Steph! Unfortunately, the Sir Francis Drake is no longer be a Kimpton as o…"
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It is rumored that guests have reported windows mysteriously open, curtains moving, eerie voices and strange shadows.
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of Drake's era, architectural elements included the grand marble staircase, vaulted gold leafed embossed ceilings and
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that was reportedly given to guests at check-in and through the hotel's servidor doors as a way to circumvent the
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dubbed the Persian Room “The Snake Pit” because, he said, “You never heard such hissing or saw such writhing."
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uniform. His photograph was reportedly taken hundreds of times per day prior to his 2020 retirement.
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432:"Kimco Hotel & Restaurant Management Co. Assumes Management of Landmark Sir Francis Drake Hotel"
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418:"A Sir Francis Drake fixture / San Francisco hotel doorman celebrates 25 years of service"
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530:"Pebblebrook exec acknowledges Sir Francis Drake sold at a discount — and explains why"
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of the hotel as it was built as a way to store bootlegged liquor via Canada from the
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passes in front of the hotel. The hotel is also adjacent to the Theatre District and
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671:"Union Square's famed Starlight Room rebranded to reflect alleged royal affair"
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After the stock market crash in 1929, the hotel still prospered, attracting
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On February 19, 2022, it was announced that the hotel would be renamed the
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Starlight. Sunday Drag Brunch continues at other locations in the hotel.
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staff to deliver dry cleaning and other items without disturbing guests.
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said to be from a 1920s wedding when the father of the bride shot off a
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36:. It is located at the corner of Sutter and Powell Streets adjacent to
397:"The Daily Standard from Sikeston, Missouri on July 3, 1977 · Page 40"
516:"Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Executes Contract to Sell Sir Francis Drake"
695:"Sunday Drag Brunch San Francisco | Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel"
639:"Secret Prohibition Room in Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco"
373:"Death at the Sir Francis Drake: Two actors and a tragic accident"
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735:"Your First Look Inside the Sir Francis Drake's Prohibition Room"
502:"San Francisco's Sir Francis Drake hotel considering name change"
488:"HNN - Pebblebrook acquires Sir Francis Drake Hotel for US$ 90m"
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In the late 1980s, the hotel ran into financial difficulties.
618:"This Historic San Francisco Hotel Just Got a Major Makeover"
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471:"Pebblebrook Acquires Sir Francis Drake Hotel for US$ 90m"
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It was the job of San Francisco architects and engineers
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Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco, view of the top
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The hotel closed temporarily in March 2020, due to the
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358:"Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search"
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653:"Sunday's a Drag: Show changes Starlight Room view"
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110:child actors, as well as dance troupes and
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218:, San Francisco. The hotel is adjacent to
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56:who, in 1579, narrowly missed discovering
214:The Beacon Grand is located in downtown
197:economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
191:Sir Francis Drake Hotel entrance in 2012
155:and restoring lobby paintings depicting
748:Boutique, Paris Hotel (1 August 2016).
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20:Main entrance to the Beacon Grand Hotel
764:"13 of the Most Haunted Places in SF"
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32:, California, opened in 1928 as the
669:Sisto, Carrie (October 14, 2019).
538:. 22 February 2021. Archived from
125:The Sir Francis Drake was sold to
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868:Hotel buildings completed in 1928
858:1928 establishments in California
592:Bordas, Alexandria (2022-02-20).
371:SFGATE, Katie Dowd (2022-03-04).
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173:Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
28:is a historic 416-room hotel in
718:Alvarado, Rhys (15 June 2014).
230:, the oldest in North America.
178:Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel
733:Kuchar, Sally (28 June 2013).
1:
784:San Francisco Bay Area portal
535:San Francisco Business Times
224:Powell–Mason cable car line
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863:Hotels established in 1928
569:@Kimpton (5 April 2021).
75:and California Governor,
824:37.789126°N 122.408356°W
268:Reed & Barton Silver
873:Weeks and Day buildings
853:Hotels in San Francisco
699:www.sirfrancisdrake.com
598:San Francisco Chronicle
60:and instead sailed the
50:Sir Francis Drake Hotel
34:Sir Francis Drake Hotel
829:37.789126; -122.408356
436:www.thefreelibrary.com
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182:Chartres Lodging Group
164:hotel's trademark red
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52:was named after the
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655:. 7 November 2010.
518:. 3 February 2021.
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827: /
815:122°24′30″W
297:Prohibition
264:Renaissance
161:chandeliers
77:C. C. Young
63:Golden Hind
842:Categories
812:37°47′21″N
704:2020-05-14
680:2020-05-14
603:2022-03-04
382:2022-03-04
316:References
289:blueprints
245:bas-relief
146:Paul Lynde
112:vaudeville
108:“Our Gang”
92:luminaries
81:Orchestras
68:Drakes Bay
302:tommy gun
228:Chinatown
166:Beefeater
142:Bewitched
140:In 1965,
120:Herb Caen
100:Myrna Loy
89:Hollywood
675:Hoodline
247:detail.
210:Location
106:and the
579:Twitter
44:History
377:SFGATE
575:Tweet
157:Drake
144:star
94:like
66:into
48:The
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