The Tutwiler Hotel's Preservation
The Tutwiler: Past, Present and Future
Robert Jemison opened The Tutwiler in 1914 to convince the American Iron and Steel Institute to have its annual convention in Birmingham. From the beginning, the hotel was not only to be the best in Birmingham, but also 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 was located at the corner of Twentieth Street and Fifth Avenue North. The Tutwiler cemented Twentieth Street as Birmingham’s “Main Street.” 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. Mr. Harold Rosbottom, Jr., Murray’s business partner acquired The Tutwiler and Murray set about his vision of restoring The Tutwiler to its position of prominence in the City Center.
The Tutwiler has gone through 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.
Robert Jemison opened The Tutwiler in 1914 to convince the American Iron and Steel Institute to have its annual convention in Birmingham. From the beginning, the hotel was not only to be the best in Birmingham, but also 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 was located at the corner of Twentieth Street and Fifth Avenue North. The Tutwiler cemented Twentieth Street as Birmingham’s “Main Street.” 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. Mr. Harold Rosbottom, Jr., Murray’s business partner acquired The Tutwiler and Murray set about his vision of restoring The Tutwiler to its position of prominence in the City Center.
The Tutwiler has gone through 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.
