BASIC Program

A Major League Baseball hero came to Birmingham to support the American Baseball Foundation’s BASIC Program. As a proud sponsor of the American Baseball Foundation, the Tutwiler Hotel welcomed Andre Dawson to the Magic City on February 3, 2012. Dawson played 21 seasons of professional baseball and was inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 2010.

General Manager Robert Radice attended the Lead Off Dinner benefitting the BASIC Program, which works to inspire and motivate underserved children in Central Alabama through sports mentors and practical knowledge education. The American Baseball Foundation “strives to improve the community through the development of self confidence in academics as well as sports.”

Baseball icons Matt Downs, Ron Jackson, Steve Woodard and John Rocker were also in attendance. ABF’s Executive Director David Osinski says sports can become the vehicle that captures kids as avid readers. He says the BASIC curriculum “introduces underserved children to sports heroes from several countries in a combined classroom and ballpark environment.”

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Birmingham’s Five Points is a local hub for restaurants, nightlife and history. The Tutwiler is proud to offer a complimentary shuttle to this downtown destination. Transportation should not be on your priority list when you can enjoy local fare, music and culture! Reserve your spot on our shuttle and we’lll drop you off or pick you up from 8:00 A.M. – 9:45 P.M.  every day of the week.

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Woodward Room

In the stately Woodward Parlor, named for Birmingham Barons Baseball Player Rick Woodward, the Tutwiler offers complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Grab a cup to go or enjoy a warm pick-me-up while taking in the beautiful surroundings in Birmingham’s most historic hotel. Service is available 24 hours a day.

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Breakfast at Bromberg's

Are you planning your big day? Mark your calendars for Breakfast at Bromberg’s and hit the ground running. The Tutwiler’s own Tricia Conrad , with her 25+ years of experience, will be there helping brides plan that once in a lifetime event.

The event will begin at 10:00 AM at Bromberg’s Mountain Brook! There will be lots of giveaways and exclusive opportunity to find ideas for your big day. Brides-to-be should R.S.V.P. at 205.871.3276 since space is limited. Visit brombergsbride.com for more details.

The Tutwiler is the perfect site for a wedding or reception with a timeless touch of elegance. Let the Tutwiler make your day magical and memorable.

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BBVA Compass Bowl

The Tutwiler Hotel is a proud sponsor of the BBVA Compass Bowl.  The game took place at Legion Field, located  just two miles from the hotel, on January 7, 2012.  As Southern Methodist University and the Pittsburgh Panthers battled it out on the gridiron, their fans enjoyed serious football with our southern hospitality!

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Bama Rising Logo

Don’t miss the Bama Rising benefit concert. The country music community, including Alabama, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Dierks Bentley and many more will unite on June 14 to assist victims of the April tornadoes that affected so many Alabamians.

Located within minutes of the concert venue at the BJCC, reserve your guestroom now at The Historic Tutwiler Hotel – Birmingham’s downtown Hampton Inn & Suites. You’ll be in for a true Birmingham experience!

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Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005

The Tutwiler Hotel has a long history of association with the Miss Alabama Pageant. The pageant began in 1921 with the crowning of Lois Wilson as the first Miss Alabama.

In its early days the pageant was held at the Tutwiler Hotel and concluded each year with a celebratory ball. It is with great pleasure that we return again to this splendid hotel.

The Miss Alabama Pageant hosted its 90th Anniversary Gala at The Historic Tutwiler Hotel on April 30, 2011. The 2011 Gala featured dinner, a silent auction, and entertainment from the current Miss Alabama, Ashley Davis and Kurt Jenkins.

Tutwiler Hotel General Manager Bob Radice is a judge for the Miss Alabama Pageant.

Throughout its 90 years, the Miss Alabama Pageant has provided millions of scholarship dollars to outstanding women in the state. Each year Miss Alabama competes for the title of Miss America and three have taken home the crown:

Yolande Betbeze-1951

Heather Whitestone-1995

Deidre Downs-2005

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The city of Birmingham skyline

Need some suggestions on the most important things to see and do during your visit to Birmingham? Here are three itineraries based on your time in town.

DAY ONE – ESSENTIAL BIRMINGHAM
* On the House Breakfast on the Hotel’s eighth floor.
* Take the audio guide tour of the Tutwiler’s historic photo gallery.
* Get a panoramic overview of the city at Vulcan, the city’s symbol and largest cast iron statue in the world.
* Lunch at Dreamland BBQ for their world famous ribs. “Ain’t nothin’ like ‘em nowhere.”
* Tour the Civil Rights Institute, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and walk the Civil Rights trail.
* Stop by the Peanut Depot on Morris Avenue and get some hot roasted peanuts for later.
* Have a spectacular dinner in Five Points South.
* Finish with drinks and the best in live jazz at Ona’s Music Room in Pepper Place.

DAY TWO – BIRMINGHAM PAST AND PRESENT
* Coffee and a European vibe breakfast at Urban Standard on 2nd Avenue North.
* Go just a couple of blocks over and tour the Birmingham Museum of Art.
* Have lunch in the Museum Cafe.
* Get a feel for Birmingham’s industrial roots by taking the walking tour of the Sloss Furnace National Historic Landmark.
* Enjoy dinner and a little shopping in the vibrant SoHo District of nearby Homewood.
* Cap off the day with a cocktail in Century Bar and Grill at The Tutwiler.

DAY THREE – SPORTS THEME DAY
* Enjoy an incredible breakfast at the Original Pancake House in Five points South.
* Visit America’s Oldest Ballpark, Rickwood Field, where the movie Cobb was filmed.
* Tour the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
* Sample the best meat and three around at Niki’s West.
* Take the short drive to Leeds and the world class motorcycle museum at the Barber’s Motorsports Park.
* Dinner in Century Restaurant.

DAY FOUR – GREEN THUMB DAY
* Start with a scrumptious pastry at Continental Bakery in the charming English Village neighborhood
* Make the short drive to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Don’t miss the Japanese Garden.
* Order the egg salad sandwich at Gilchrist Drugs in Mountain Brook Village, rated as one of the 100 Alabama Dishes you Must Try Before You Die. Get one of their famous freshly squeezed limeades as well.
* Next up is Aldridge Botanical Gardens. This former private estate garden is now open to the public and features the largest hydrangea collection in the world.
* Dinner and shopping at the Riverchase Galleria, with 200 shops under the world’s largest skylight. There are dozens of dining choices, including Baumhower’s in adjacent Patton Creek with its Bring ‘da Pain wings or Tortugas for real deep dish Chicago style pizza.

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Stunning evening shot of the exterior of The Historic Tutwiler Hotel.

The Tutwiler Hotel opened in 1914. The Tutwiler was located at the corner of Twentieth Street and Fifth Avenue North. The Tutwiler cemented Twentieth Street as Birmingham’s “Main Street.”

It was not only to be the best in Birmingham, but designed to compete with the best hotels in the country. It was built in a grandiose style, with a main lobby that was large and elegant. Balconies overlooked the lobby (on the inside) from two mezzanine levels. The original hotel opened with 343 rooms and also featured a “Grand Ball Room” that could accommodate 1200 people. It made Birmingham a center for meetings and conventions in the South.

The Tutwiler had lost some of its elegance in the 1960s when a group renovated it and returned it to its original grandeur. But the facelift was not enough to save the Grand Dame of Southern hotels and as modern skyscrapers rose around the hotel, developers struck a deal to demolish the building. It was imploded in 1974 and the Financial Center building was built.

One block away, The Ridgely Apartment building was still in use. Owned by the Tutwiler Family, the Ridgely had been built at the same time as The Tutwiler. It opened its doors during the summer of 1914 as one of the grandest apartment buildings in the south.

By 1986, Mr. Temple Tutwiler believed that the time was right for The Ridgely to be transformed into a luxury hotel and he worked with developers to renovate the hotel and restore it to its former prominence. The Tutwiler became affiliated with Grand Heritage hotels. It eventually was flagged as a Wyndham Historic Hotel.

Birmingham’s downtown had stagnated, and the hotel was never as financially successful as developers hoped. It gradually deteriorated in quality and travelers began to turn their back on the beautiful old lady. But in recent years, Birmingham’s downtown has enjoyed a Renaissance, like many other city centers.

When the opportunity presented itself to acquire The Tutwiler Hotel in October 2005, local hotel developer Bill Murray seized the opportunity and convinced his business partner to acquire The Tutwiler. Murray and his team at Integral Hospitality set about the work of restoring The Tutwiler to its position of prominence in the City Center.

The Tutwiler received a total transformation that began in May 2006 and was completed in April 2007. The historic architecture, such as the building’s exterior, the polished marble floors and the vaulted ceilings, are the only elements that remain the same. The interior of the building received a total makeover – with exciting new amenities such as a fitness center, a convenient suite shop and a breakfast room with a view of the city to be added.

The hotel remained open during renovations, and construction was completed one floor at a time, so guests were largely unaware renovations were taking place until they checked in to their breathtaking suite on their next visit.

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