#43 Postcard Trivia 1.29.19

Which one is the real Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City? And what happened to the other one? The postcard on the left shows the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel built in 1893 on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Actually, the original hotel was known as the Waldorf and was built by William Astor. His cousin, John Jacob Astor, built the Astoria Hotel next door in 1897 and the two were joined. They were connected by a famous walkway - Peacock Alley. New York society embraced the new hotel and it became the place for uppercrust social events. During the next 30 years, new hotels opened and overshadowed the great Waldorf-Astoria. It was shut down and the building was sold in 1929. But soon after, a new Waldorf-Astoria was built on Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This new hotel, pictured in the postcard on the right, opened in 1931. You may have a connection with the famous dining room of the original hotel if you have enjoyed any of these dishes that were created there - Waldorf salad, eggs Benedict, or Thousand Island dressing. At present, the Waldorf-Astoria New York is closed for remodeling and is scheduled to re-open in 2021. The new hotel will feature a reduced number of hotel rooms and along with a large number of residential condominiums.

Trivia Question:

When the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel closed in 1929, the building was torn down to make room for a new building. What building was completed on that site in 1931?

A. Chrysler Building B. Empire State Building C. United Nations Headquarters

Postcard TriviaJana GarnerNew York City, Waldorf-Astoria, luxury hotel, Empire State Building, 1907Comment