Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Gayoso Hotel

1842

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 23, 2023

1. Gayoso Hotel Marker

Inscription. Opened in 1842, named for the early Spanish governor, this hotel's main entrance was originally here. Capt. William H. Forrest, raiding into Memphis under his famous brother in the early morning of August 21, 1864, rode his horse into the lobby, searching for Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlburt, quartered in the hotel, who was then sleeping elsewhere.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 35° 8.479′ N, 90° 3.343′ W. Marker is unreadable. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is at the intersection of South Front Street and Peabody Place, on the right when traveling north on South Front Street. It is embedded in the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 142 S Front St, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi

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Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Grand Opera House / The New Orpheum Theatre (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 19th Century Architecture (about 500 feet away); Schools For Freedmen (about 500 feet away); The Lee Sisters (about 500 feet away); Opera House Fire (about 700 feet away); Barboro Grocery (about 700 feet away); Heroic Hooker (about 700 feet away); Cora James (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

More about this marker. Inscription obtained from Shelby County Register of Deeds office.

Also see . . . Gayoso Hotel. A vision of grandeur for the developing river metropolis at Memphis, the Gayoso House was built by Robertson Topp, a wealthy young planter. (Blythe Semmer, Tennessee Encyclopedia,

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 23, 2023

2. Gayoso Hotel Marker

posted Oct. 8, 2017) (Submitted on April 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Gayoso Hotel image. Click for full size.

via Historic-Memphis.com (Public Domain), 1867

3. Gayoso Hotel

The hotel initially had 150 rooms, but it was doubled in size just prior to the Civil War. It burned down on July 4, 1899, and the Gayoso House hotel (now an apartment building) was constructed in its place.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,353 times since then and 172 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Clear photo of legible marker. • Can you help?