| The Waldorf-Astoria hotel, one of the most famous | | | | Waldorf-Astoria was the largest hotel of its time. |
| hotels in New York City, has an existence that seems | | | | Two Locations |
| to be based on the number two. The history of the | | | | As mentioned, the original sight of the Waldorf-Astoria |
| Waldorf-Astoria starts with a family feud, and | | | | is not the current location, which is on Park Avenue, |
| continues even today as one of the most successful | | | | built in 1931. The original hotel was torn down in order to |
| hotels in the world. The Waldorf-Astoria is influential | | | | make room for the Empire State building, destined to |
| enough that a salad, the Waldorf, is named after it, an | | | | be the world's largest building for many years. The |
| honor none of the other New York City hotels can | | | | new Waldorf-Astoria quickly reestablished itself as one |
| claim. It's also famous for being one of the first hotels | | | | of the leading New York City hotels, built in art-deco |
| to allow women to stay in a room without an escort, | | | | style and boasting the honor of the world's tallest hotel |
| something not common in the late 1800s, when the | | | | at the time. |
| hotel was first opened. A look at its history will help to | | | | And in a return to a dual nature, the new |
| show the dual nature of the Waldorf-Astoria. | | | | Waldorf-Astoria is once more two New York City |
| A Family Disagreement | | | | hotels in one location, with the Waldorf Towers, billed |
| The original Waldorf hotel was built on the same site | | | | as a luxury hotel for the discerning traveler, taking up |
| where the Empire State Building is today. In part | | | | the top floors of the new Waldorf-Astoria. As a final |
| because of an argument with his aunt, William Waldorf | | | | expression of the duality of the Waldorf-Astoria hotels, |
| Astor built this hotel on the site of his father's mansion, | | | | the chain itself often expresses its name with a double |
| which was conveniently located right next to his aunt's | | | | hyphen rather than a single in order to celebrate it's |
| home. This, of course, further annoyed his aunt, and | | | | history as coming from two New York city hotels in |
| the problem wasn't solved until her son, John Jacob | | | | one. Truly, the Waldorf-Astoria is a pair of hotels with |
| Astor IV, persuaded her to move away and used the | | | | history. |
| site of her home to build his own hotel, the Astor Hotel. | | | | Copyright © John Hanna All Rights Reserved. |
| Both hotels were built with the input from George | | | | This article may be distributed freely on your website |
| Boldt, who envisioned that these two New York City | | | | and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, |
| hotels would be joined. Connected by something which | | | | copyright notice, links and the resource box are |
| would be called Peacock Alley, the combined | | | | unchanged. |