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plaza.jpg - 31.9 KThe Plaza, home of Eloise is located in New York City at Fifth Avenue at Central Park South. Designed by famed architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, "the greatest hotel in the world" opened October 1, 1907. Built on the site of a 15-year-old predecessor of the same name, no expense was spared on the 19-story, French Renaissance "château." Marble lobbies, solid mahogany doors, 1,650 crystal chandeliers, Swiss organdy curtains, privately manufactured Irish linens, and gold-encrusted china were just a few of its features. And now, as a member of America's Family of Grand Hotels, The Fairmont Hotels, this National and City Historic Landmark structure is once again as it was always meant to be ...the premier hotel of New York. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1998, The Plaza was also designated as a literary landmark (a program that encourages communities to place identifying plaques on properties that are connected with famous authors either as residences or described in their work.) by the Friends of the library, USA. FOLUSA Literary Landmark Website.

postcard_f.jpg - 15.2 KTwo years after the first Eloise book's publication, a painting by Knight was hung in the lobby of the hotel. "We've had generations of mothers bringing daughters or grandmothers bringing granddaughters to the hotel to see the portrait or go to the Palm Court to have tea," Curt Gathje, the Plaza's manager of the office of the president and unofficial house historian said.

The portrait disappeared after a fraternity party. As the story goes, when Princess Grace toured the hotel with her children, she was dismayed to find the portrait gone. After that, Knight painted a new oil painting that now hangs opposite the hotel's Palm Court, where Eloise lunches on rainy days. A postcard version of the portrait was sold in the hotel.

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For a few years, the hotel had an Eloise Room that was used as a sitting room for visitors on weekdays and an ice cream parlor named after the character. "I think there is a little bit of Eloise in everybody," Gathje said. "I think it goes beyond a 6-year old girl. It's about being rowdy in a public place, or acting up in a public place and being allowed to do it -- but in a very genteel way."

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The Eloise Menu
The Plaza Hotel - 1957

At the Plaza
Published by St. Martin's Press, by Curt Gathje - 2000

 

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