Searching for history of NYC's Empire Hotel

June 26, 2013 6:56 AM

I'm working on a story and was looking for some historical information on the Empire Hotel in Manhattan, one of the oldest hotels in the city. I'm not experienced in research, and my google searching did not produce much. Can you all steer me in the direction of how to research the history of this hotel?

The only idea I've had so far is going to the main public library and asking for the librarian's help. Is this the right way to go? Other suggestions? Links to more information that I was unable to dig up? The only info I've found so far is that the hotel was built in the mid 1890s and then rebuilt in 1923, and recently renovated.

Any and all historical tidbits about the hotel are welcome.

Thanks so much!

posted by dysh to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

Yes, go to the public library. They can point you in the right direction.
posted by mareli at 7:01 AM on June 26, 2013

Check the library, but also visit New York Historical Society and The Museum of the City of New York to see if they have other info (they may). Both are near Central Park, albeit on opposite sides of the park; but still do-able in a day.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:04 AM on June 26, 2013

Nthing the NYHS.
posted by The Whelk at 7:05 AM on June 26, 2013

This might be too obvious but...have you considered contacting the hotel itself?
posted by ceribus peribus at 7:13 AM on June 26, 2013

Does your library have ProQuest? You can search historic newspapers for information.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:06 AM on June 26, 2013

This 1895 article from the New York Times (pdf) gives some of its early history.
posted by Knappster at 10:38 AM on June 26, 2013

Here's another, from when it was still called "Hotel Casa Alameda."
posted by Knappster at 10:42 AM on June 26, 2013

More generally, you can search old issues of the New York Times here, and the Tribune, Sun, Evening World, etc., here.
posted by Knappster at 10:56 AM on June 26, 2013