At the Plaza: An Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Hotel

At The Plaza is a pictorial record and an anecdotal history of the worlds most famous hotel: New Yorks Plaza. As a story it traverses the breadth and scope of Gothams high society during the American Century. As a photo collection its like no other capturing the hotels remarkable presence on the ever-changing New York scene. For almost one hundred years The Plaza has mirrored the social history of Manhattan: its tastes in design entertainment restaurants and accommodations as well as its adjustment to Prohibition the Great Depression two World Wars the Cold War womens rights smokers rights animals rights and British rock-and-roll. The first guests to sign the register-Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt-set the standard for the long procession of luminaries that followed: Mark Twain Diamond Jim Brady Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Marlene Dietrich Frank Lloyd Wright Marilyn Monroe Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Beatles among many others. In At The Plaza the hotels official historian has compiled a tremendous collection of photographs and vignettes chronicling the colorful history of a building an institution and a city.