The history of our manhattan landmark hotel
The New Yorker has a history as intriguing as her intricate design. From her iconic Art Deco style to her ingenious American construction, the “Grand Old Lady” has been striking component of the New York skyline, towering above all others and illuminating it since her 1930 inception. Built with a private power plant, an underground tunnel to Penn Station and even an ice rink, our landmark Manhattan hotel was the most technologically advanced of her day. At the height of her popularity she hosted influential politicians, celebrities, and sports figures, and entertained in The Terrace Room with the who’s who of the Big Band era. Today she returns to her roots, proving that she was destined for greatness from the very start.
TIMELINE
1928
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
Construction begins on The New Yorker Hotel. Designed by Sugarman and Berger Architects, this 1.2 million-square-foot hotel would be the most state-of-the-art building in the country, as well as one of the largest.
1930
THE NEW YORKER OPENS
After just 22 months of construction, The New Yorker opens on January 2, 1930, with 2503 rooms starting at $3.50 a night. Towering 43 stories into the sky and 78 feet below the ground, The New Yorker was no small feat, much less one to be completed in under two years.
1932
DIRECT ACCESS TO SUBWAYS & PENN STATION
The 8th Avenue subway line opens, giving The New Yorker guests direct access to Penn Station by means of the hotel’s private tunnel.
1933
tesla at the new yorker hotel
Inventor of the AC power system and the Tesla power coil, Nikola Tesla moves into The New Yorker Hotel, occupying rooms 3327 and 3328. Tesla lived in the hotel until his death on January 7, 1943.
1939
NBC LIVE BROADCASTING
NBC begins broadcasting live from The Terrace Room. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s The Terrace Room would set the stage for big name, big band acts like Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, as well as nightly ice-skating shows on the hotel’s retractable ice-skating rink.
1941
Brooklyn Dodgers into NYH
The Brooklyn Dodgers, under the management of Leo Durocher, move into The New Yorker during the World Series. Dubbed the first of the “Subway Series” the Brooklyn Dodgers would go on to lose to the New York Yankees in five games.
1942
STATE OF THE ART HOTEL
Due to its proximity to Penn Station, the New Yorker hosts numerous GIs during World War II en route to the European Theater. Being a big-city, state-of-the-art hotel, The New Yorker developed its own renown among GIs, many of which had never lived in such luxury, much less visited New York City.
1948
The Greatest Number of Television Sets
The New Yorker installs televisions in its first 100 guestrooms, making it one of the first hotels in the United States to do so. Being the only hotel in the world with these bragging rights, The New Yorker began to advertise itself as the hotel with “the greatest number of television sets under one roof.
1959
Obama Sr. Married Ann Dunham
Barack Obama, Sr. arrives at The New Yorker as part of the airlift initiative by then-senator John F. Kennedy. Organized with Kenyan leader Tom Myoba, the program provided scholarships and living expenses for Kenya students in the United States. It was on this trip that Obama, Sr. married Ann Dunham, the mother of President Barack Obama.
1971
Muhammad Ali Recuperates at NYH
Muhammad Ali recuperates at The New Yorker after his hard-fought loss to Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century,” which took place across the street at Madison Square Garden.
1972
The New Yorker Closes Its Doors
After years of New York’s inner city decline, The New Yorker closes its doors, uncertain of its future.
1976 - 1980
Church Purchases
The Unification Church purchases The New Yorker with plans to turn it into a mission center for the Korean religious movement in the United States. In 1980 the renovations to bring the former hotel up to code and to date are finished, with almost all work done by Unification Church members.
1994
The New Yorker Reopens
The New Yorker reopens as a hotel, under the direction of The New Yorker Hotel Management Company, with 150 initial rooms, starting at $45 a night.
2001
New Yorker During 9/11
The New Yorker donates 10,000 free nights to volunteers in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. For this act of kindness, The New Yorker was recognized by both the New York Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department.
2006
The New Yorker Renovation
The New Yorker breaks ground on one of its most substantial renovations, a three-year project aimed at restoring the building’s Art Deco heritage, as well as bringing the heating, cooling and safety systems up to date. Thanks to this renovation, guests can now enjoy The New Yorker in all its iconic splendor.
2008
Private Power Plant
The Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers names The New Yorker’s private power plant a milestone in electrical engineering. During its use from 1930-1967, the power plant was capable of providing for a small city of 25,000.
2014
Joins Wyndham Hotels
The New Yorker joins Wyndham Hotels.
2014 - 2016
The New Yorker Addition
The New Yorker expands its hotel with 139 Executive rooms and Suites with a new look and décor while still keeping up with the art deco charm.
2016
Hillary Clinton Delivers Concession Speech
Standing beside her husband and former President, Hillary Clinton delivers her concession speech in the Grand Ballroom at The New Yorker.
