Read House - Chattanooga, TN
N 35° 02.739 W 085° 18.649
16S E 654062 N 3879409
Located in downtown Chattanooga, and within walking distance of many activities.
Waymark Code: WM23P9
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 08/29/2007
Views: 87
The first hotel on this spot was built in 1847 and called the Old Crutchfield House, a grand hotel for the times. In 1863 it was used by the Union Army as a hospital. Then in 1867 it burned down just shortly after the war. Dr John T. Read and his son built a new hotel in its place. In 1926 the old hotel was demolished and the current ten story high Georgian style hotel was built. The current hotel was designed by the Holabird and Roche architectural firm based in Chicago. It went through a $10 million renovation in 2004 to restore it to a near original style, but with many modifications to update it to 21st century standards such as new room layouts, more electrical outlets, internet access, new pool, and so forth.
Many affluent visitors stayed in the hotel such as Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill for examples. Al Capone also stayed in room 311 during his days in court that convicted him. This room had bars on the windows from that time until its renovation in 2004.
The hotel lobby is a site to see with hard wood paneling and decorative ceiling. The ball room is also a work of renovated art with exquisite sconces, large wall mirrors, and fine detailing.
You can read one of the stories about the history of the hotel and a ghost story at American Roads.
The hotel link is provided below in the variables so you can make reservations.