Liberace's pay stub, Polaroids from the World's Fair and Mark Twain's beer stein: Palmer House's 150th anniversary celebration has it all!

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO DECEMBER 8

After first opening its doors in 1871, Palmer House Hilton Hotel, celebrates its 150th anniversary on September 23 (CHANGED TO DECEMBER 8) with an open house event, inviting guests to explore the hotel’s collection of prized artifacts and learn about its deep-rooted history in Chicago.

The lobby will open to the public at 11:00am with a state and city proclamation dedication and address from Hilton SVP Hotel Operations, Americas, Keith Clampet. Additional speakers commemorating the sesquicentennial celebration include Larry Horowitz of Historic Hotels of America, serving as the Master of Ceremonies, and keynote address from Alderman Brendan Reilly.

The story of Chicago’s Palmer House began as an extravagant wedding gift from Potter Palmer to his new wife, Bertha Honoré Palmer. Only 13 days after its grand opening, The Palmer House sadly fell victim to the Great Chicago Fire, but was rebuilt on November 8, 1873, marking the opening of what would become one of the nation’s most iconic and famed hotels.

By the turn of the century, Palmer House had become Chicago’s liveliest social center, hosting a long list of prominent figures— ranging from U.S. presidents to Charles Dickens to Oscar Wilde. In 1933, the Empire Dining Room hosted legendary entertainers, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Louis Armstrong, and Liberace.

“Through the years, Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel has been a pinnacle of resilience, ingenuity, haven of inclusivity, and institutional part of the growth of Chicago. As a hotel built on love, Palmer House remains engrained into the city of Chicago, serving as a beacon of light following a challenging year,” said Hilton Area General Manager, Dean Lane. “With the demise of the original building due to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, undeterred Potter Palmer secured the largest hotel real estate loan of its day and rebuilt the second Palmer House, the first fire-proof hotel in the world. Proving its staying power through the decades, Palmer House has become a hotel of many firsts, famously the first hotel to install the original telephone system, sometimes accommodating 2,700 calls per hour. Palmer House is the first fireproof hotel, birthplace of the original chocolate fudge brownie, the first to employ the vertical steam lift, which would later become the elevator, the first hotel to use the lightbulb, and home to the first-ever Polaroids from the 1893 World’s Fair. We take pride in preserving our hotel’s history and are honored to share its treasures with our beloved city and guests in honor of the hotel’s 150th year anniversary.”

For the anniversary celebration, as the hotel’s 1930 vinyl record collection plays, visitors to the open house are invited to embark on a visual journey through the decades, while enjoying champagne and live music from Chicago’s Teatro ZinZanni as well as hors d'oeuvres featuring popular vintage menu items.

Artifacts will be exhibited throughout the hotel including the first-ever Polaroids from the 1893 World’s Fair; Mark Twain’s beer stein; Bertha Palmer’s scrapbook, recounting the events leading up to the 19th amendment; original employee records from 1947; the register line-up of artists from the Empire Room with the original payments from their performances, including Liberace’s recorded payment of $900 plus one room accommodation; an original spittoon from the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 valued at over $250,000 and more.

The gallery of never-before-seen relics will be extended throughout the Mezzanine leading into the Museum of History & Archive. The displays will be arranged by theme including Culinary -- a menu from 1878; Entertainment -- various entertainers who once commanded the Empire Room’s stage; Advertorial - - throughout the years, from Trader Vic’s to Murder Mystery themed dinners. Bertha Palmer -- displaying her personal collection of couture items; and more. A historic archival animated art-installation will be displayed on the hotel’s lobby marble columns and Empire Room façade via digital mapping, for a captivating, 360-degree immersive experience.

In the past two months, Palmer House has unveiled a brand-new indoor swimming pool following a $2.2 Million renovation and introduced Lockwood Express, a grab-and-go concept that includes daily baked pastries, Lavazza coffee, selection of warm artesian meals, and even small batch cocktails for travelers on-the-go. For the anniversary celebration, the hotel will introduce the Bertha Brownie Latte, a playful spin on the original fudge brownie.

The anniversary activations will incorporate a Sesquicentennial Magic Parlour Package, including overnight accommodations, 1871 cocktail for two at Lockwood Lobby Bar, and two tickets to a Magic Parlour performance. Accommodation rates at Palmer House start at $189 per night. For reservations or more information on the hotel’s 150th anniversary celebration, please visit https://www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com/ or call (312) 726-7500.