Exchange Hotel (Richmond, Virginia) Explained

The Exchange Hotel, completed in 1841 in Richmond, Virginia was a Gothic revival four-story building designed by Isaiah Rogers. It was very popular before the Civil War.

The Ballard House opened up across the street in 1855. This five-story Italianate faced onto Franklin Street at the corner of Fourteenth Street.[1] Both establishments were owned by John P. Ballard (1816 - 1878).[2] They were connected at the second level first by a footbridge made of steel, and some years later enclosed in brick. Their old architecture prevented them from being one of the premiere Richmond hotels at the time.[3]

U.S. President John Tyler died at the Exchange Hotel in 1862.[4] His widow, Julia, died there also, 27 years later.[5]

It was demolished from 1900-1901, shortly after closing thanks to competition from the newer Jefferson Hotel.[6]

References

  1. Web site: Exchange Hotel and Ballard House, Richmond, Va.
  2. Web site: Exchange Hotel and Ballard House . 2023-09-22 . Virginia Museum of History & Culture . en.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=OUxZkZqDASEC Hotel: An American History
  4. Web site: John Tyler, 10th United States President, dies in his hotel room in Richmond, Virginia, aged 71 House Divided . 2024-07-25 . hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu.
  5. Web site: 2013-02-21 . Julia Gardiner, John Tyler, the White House and the Princeton – Dan’s Papers . 2024-07-25 . www.danspapers.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: Exchange Hotel, Southeast corner Franklin and Fourteenth streets, Richmond . 2009-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222204656/http://vahistorical.org/lva/exchange.htm . 2010-12-22 . dead .

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