Manhattan - Algonquin Hotel

A Brief History: Located at 59 West 44th Street and Constructed in 1902 by architect Goldwin Starrett of the famed architectural firm Starrett & Van Vleck, The Algonquin Hotel situated in the heart of New York City’s theater district set the standard for elegance and sophistication during the Vaudeville era. The hotel would later become host to the Algonquin Round Table consisting of writers, publicists, actors, directors, critics and other assorted who’s who of the literature and entertainment world. At its core “The Vicious Circle” otherwise known as Franklin Pierce Adams, Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Heywood Broun, Ruth Hale, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, Robert E. Sherwood, Harold Ross, John Peter Toohey and Alexander Woollcott would meet almost daily from 1919 – 1929 to exchange ideas, politics and influence one another. As the Roaring Twenties gave way to the Great Depression the circle disbanded, but their legacy and some would say their presence have left an indelible mark on the hotel.

Haunted History: Guests have reportedly seen specters of former members in the hotel lobby and main dining room. Further stories revolve around a recent renovation of attic space on the 13th floor. On the night of completion there were claims of unusual noises coming from the attic culminating in a picture of Dorothy Parker falling from the wall and shattering at around 3am.