The Roosevelt Hotel is famous for its historic architecture, cultural significance, and role in key events throughout New York City’s history[1]. Opened in 1924 and named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the hotel was developed to accommodate travelers near Grand Central Terminal and quickly became an iconic Midtown Manhattan landmark[3].
Its Italian Renaissance Revival-style facade, luxurious interiors, and novel amenities for its time—including storefronts instead of street-level lounges due to Prohibition, on-site health club, child care facilities, a kennel for pets, and radios in every room—set it apart when it opened[1][5]. The Roosevelt was also among the first hotels to offer an in-house doctor and a Turkish bath[5].
The hotel gained cultural fame as the venue for musical performances by Guy Lombardo and his Orchestra at the Roosevelt Grill from 1929 to 1962, where the annual tradition of playing “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s Eve began[2][6]. Its grand spaces, such as the Palm Room with its elaborate chandelier and mural, made it a symbol of New York elegance and wealth during the “Roaring Twenties”[6].
The Roosevelt Hotel also played an important role in American political history, serving as campaign headquarters for politicians like Governor Thomas Dewey, who infamously announced victory over Harry Truman there in 1948—the source of the erroneous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline[2]. The hotel remained a political hub for Republican campaigns through the 1980s[6].
Its cinematic legacy is notable as well; the Roosevelt has been featured as a backdrop in numerous Hollywood films and television shows, further cementing its place in American popular culture[3].