Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Tutwiler Hotel / The Tutwiler-Ridgely Rebirth
Est. 1914
Photographed By Pat Filippone
1. The Tutwiler Hotel Marker
Inscription.
The Tutwiler Hotel, also, The Tutwiler-Ridgely Rebirth. Est. 1914.
The Tutwiler Hotel. In 1913, George Gordon Crawford, President of Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, complained to Robert Jemison Jr., that when friends and officers from U.S. Steel came to town they had no decent place to stay. Immediately, Jemison challenged Crawford to join him in making the dream of a luxury hotel in Birmingham a realty. While Crawford assumed the duties of president of the new company, Jemison and W.P.G. Harding, President of the First National Bank, set out to secure the mortgage for the hotel. At Harding's suggestion, they approached Major Edward Magruder Tutwiler. Major Tutwiler agreed to underwrite the first mortgage bonds. Then he added, "If agreeable, I wish they could call the hotel... The Tutwiler." Hence the "Tutwiler" brand was born. The Tutwiler opened its doors on June 15, 1914. More than 8,000 turned out in formal attire to see the newly-proclaimed "Grand Dame of Southern Hotels." For the next 60 years, The Tutwiler was the hub of Birmingham's business, social, and political circles. Hundreds of celebrities, politicians, and dignitaries walked through the doors of The Tutwiler at the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 20th Street.,
The Tutwiler-Ridgely Rebirth. In the early 1970's, Birmingham, like many other cities, viewed the improved health of its downtown as best represented in new construction and high-rise office buildings. Thus, the Tutwiler again made history in 1974, when it was one of the first major buildings in the country to be razed by "implosion," making room for the First Alabama Bank Building. A few blocks away the eight-story Ridgely Apartments, at 21st Street and 6th Avenue, was financed and owned by Major Tutwiler and completed in April 1914. The Ridgely operated as a luxury apartment building and in 1985 was 72 years old. Like many other fine buildings of its era, it had lost its utility as an apartment building. The Ridgely-Tutwiler rebirth was initiated by the great-grandson of Major Tutwiler, Temple Tutwiler III, who in early 1985 advanced the idea of the transformation to a hotel also named The Tutwiler. The original apartments yielded 148 spacious guest rooms, with 13 different room layouts per floor. Thus, the Tutwiler legacy continues today "better than ever!"
The Tutwiler Hotel
In 1913, George Gordon Crawford, President of Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, complained to Robert Jemison Jr., that when friends and officers from U.S. Steel came to town they had no decent place to stay. Immediately, Jemison challenged Crawford to join him in making the dream of a luxury hotel in Birmingham a realty. While Crawford assumed the duties of president of the new company, Jemison and W.P.G. Harding, President of the First National Bank, set out to secure the mortgage for the hotel. At Harding's suggestion, they approached Major Edward Magruder Tutwiler. Major Tutwiler agreed to underwrite the first mortgage bonds. Then he added, "If agreeable, I wish they could call the hotel... The Tutwiler." Hence the "Tutwiler" brand was born. The Tutwiler opened its doors on June 15, 1914. More than 8,000 turned out in formal attire to see the newly-proclaimed "Grand Dame of Southern Hotels." For the next 60 years, The Tutwiler was the hub of Birmingham's business, social, and political circles. Hundreds of celebrities, politicians, and dignitaries walked through the doors of The Tutwiler at the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 20th Street.
The Tutwiler-Ridgely Rebirth
In the early 1970's, Birmingham, like many other cities, viewed the
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improved health of its downtown as best represented in new construction and high-rise office buildings. Thus, the Tutwiler again made history in 1974, when it was one of the first major buildings in the country to be razed by "implosion," making room for the First Alabama Bank Building. A few blocks away the eight-story Ridgely Apartments, at 21st Street and 6th Avenue, was financed and owned by Major Tutwiler and completed in April 1914. The Ridgely operated as a luxury apartment building and in 1985 was 72 years old. Like many other fine buildings of its era, it had lost its utility as an apartment building. The Ridgely-Tutwiler rebirth was initiated by the great-grandson of Major Tutwiler, Temple Tutwiler III, who in early 1985 advanced the idea of the transformation to a hotel also named The Tutwiler. The original apartments yielded 148 spacious guest rooms, with 13 different room layouts per floor. Thus, the Tutwiler legacy continues today "better than ever!"
Erected 2014 by Jefferson County Historical Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1914.
Location. 33° 31.213′ N, 86° 48.472′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Richard Arrington
Photographed By Pat Filippone, September 27, 2016
2. The Tutwiler-Ridgely Rebirth Marker
Jr Boulevard North and Park Place, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2021 Park Pl, Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2016, by Pat Filippone of Stockton, California. This page has been viewed 1,515 times since then and 96 times this year. Last updated on November 2, 2016, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Photos:1. submitted on October 8, 2016, by Pat Filippone of Stockton, California. 2. submitted on October 7, 2016, by Pat Filippone of Stockton, California. 3, 4. submitted on October 8, 2016, by Pat Filippone of Stockton, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
