The Palmer House - Chicago's Grand Hotel Rebuilt from the Ashes
- 123gochicago
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
Did you know Chicago’s most romantic hotel began as a wedding gift?
In 1871, businessman Potter Palmer wanted to give his new wife, Bertha Honoré Palmer, something truly unforgettable — so he built her a hotel. Not just any hotel, but one of the most luxurious in America. Marble columns, chandeliers, and French-inspired décor — it was meant to be a symbol of love and Chicago’s new prosperity. But just 13 days after it opened, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city and burned it to the ground.
For most people, that would have been the end of the story. But not for the Palmers.
Potter Palmer had lost everything. But Bertha believed they could rise again. With her encouragement — and a bit of help from financial backers — Potter set out to rebuild both their fortune and the Palmer House. When the hotel reopened in 1873, it was nothing short of revolutionary. It became the world’s first fireproof hotel, featuring modern innovations like elevators, electric light bulbs, and ornate ironwork. Chicago was rebuilding itself, and the Palmer House became a shining symbol of the city’s resilience.
Bertha wasn’t just the wife behind the name — she was one of the most influential women in Chicago’s history. Known for her intelligence, charm, and sense of style, she turned the Palmer House into a gathering place for writers, politicians, and society’s elite.
She also became a major art collector, purchasing hundreds of Impressionist paintings from artists like Monet, Renoir, and Degas. Many of her works now hang in the Art Institute of Chicago, thanks to her generous donation. When Bertha spoke, people listened. She chaired the Board of Lady Managers for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, helping bring global attention to Chicago and championing women’s roles in society and business.
If love and resilience weren’t enough, the Palmer House also gave the world something sweet — the brownie. For the 1893 World’s Fair, Bertha wanted a dessert that was portable yet elegant, something that could be easily served in boxed lunches for ladies attending the fair. The hotel’s pastry chef created a rich, chocolatey square topped with walnuts and an apricot glaze — the very first brownie. You can still try the original recipe brownie today at the Lockwood Restaurant & Bar inside the Palmer House. It’s the perfect taste of Chicago history.
Throughout the 20th century, the Palmer House was where the city came to celebrate, see, and be seen. Its guest list reads like a who’s who of American culture:Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, and Billie Holiday all graced its halls.
The hotel’s opulent lobby ceiling, designed by French artist Louis Pierre Rigal, remains one of Chicago’s hidden treasures. Look up and you’ll see a fresco of Greek mythological figures — a nod to beauty, art, and rebirth, themes that have defined the hotel since day one.
Even the Tiffany Peacock Doors, with their shimmering glass and bronze detail, are original to the building and a masterpiece in themselves.
Today, the Palmer House Hilton continues to operate making it the longest continually operating hotel in North America. While modern amenities have been added, the hotel still feels like stepping back into Chicago’s Gilded Age. Guests can enjoy cocktails under the golden glow of the lobby, visit the on-site museum room filled with historic artifacts, or simply sit on one of the plush couches and imagine what it must have been like when Bertha Palmer walked these same floors.
For travelers, it’s more than a place to stay — it’s an experience of living Chicago history.
Did You Know?
The Palmer House’s famous peacock doors are made of 14-karat gold leaf and feature hand-cut glass from Tiffany Studios.
The hotel once had a barber shop, pharmacy, telegraph office, and even a tailorshop — everything guests might need without stepping outside.
The brownie recipe is still baked daily in the hotel using Bertha Palmer’s origin
Palmer House
17 E. Monroe
Chicago, IL 60603
Discover More Hidden Gems
For more hidden gems check out my book Chicago Beyond the Bean, available now. It’s filled with stories that take you beyond the typical tourist spots to explore the city’s most fascinating corners.
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