Financial District in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Royal York Hotel

L’hôtel Royal York

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2014

1. The Royal York Hotel Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

English:
Built on the site of the Queen's Hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1928-29, the Royal York Hotel was part of its coast-to-coast chain of grand hotels. The skyscraper hotel, designed by Montreal architects Ross and Macdonald in association with Sproatt and Rolph of Toronto, was the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth and dramatically altered the Toronto skyline. Inside, attractive rooms - from the classicism of the 1928-29 interior to the 1957-59 extension decorated in Canadian themes - have provided the setting for conventions, entertainers, cocktails, teas, debutante balls and royal visits. Together with Union Station to the south and the Dominion Public Building to the southeast, the Royal York Hotel has created one of the finest streetscapes in the provincial capital.

French:
Construit sur le site de l’hôtel Queen’s par le Canadian Pacific en 1928-29, l’hôtel Royal York faisait partie e la chaîne d’hôtels de luxe transcontinentale de la société ferroviaire. L’hôtel en forme de gratte-ciel, frite de la collaboration des architectes montréalais Ross et Macdonald et des architects torontois

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Sproatt et Rolph, était le plus grand hôtel du Commonwealth britannique; sa construction a changé radicalement la ligne d’horizon de Toronto. A l’intérieur, les pièces originales, aménagées dans le style classique en vogue à l’époque, ainsi que les salles de l’aile construite entre 1957 et 1959 aux motifs canadiens, ont servi de cadre à maints congrès, spectacles, cocktails, thés, bals des débutantes et visites royales. Le panorama de rue crée par l’hôtel Royal York, la gare Union, au sud, et l’édifice public Dominion, au sud-est, est l’un des plus beaux de la capitale provinciale.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.

Location. 43° 38.738′ N, 79° 22.899′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Financial District. It is on Front Street West close to York Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Front

The Fairmont Royal York Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2014

2. The Fairmont Royal York Hotel

St W, Toronto ON M5J, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sir John A. Macdonald Plaza (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Bishop’s Palace 1818 (about 150 meters away); Toronto-Dominion Centre / Le Centre Toronto-Dominion (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); No. 2 Construction Battalion (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); St. Andrew's Church (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Hockey Hall of Fame / Le Temple de renomée du hockey (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); David Pecaut Square (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

More about this marker.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 10, 2014

3. The Royal York Hotel Marker

This marker is located on the Fairmont Royal York hotel.

Also see . . . Fairmont Royal York.

Opened on 11 June 1929, the Châteauesque-styled building is 124 metres (407 ft) tall, and contains 28 floors. It is considered one of the grand railway hotels of Canada. After its completion, the building was briefly the tallest building in Toronto, as well as the tallest building in the country, and the British Empire, until the nearby Canadian Bank of Commerce Tower was built the following year. The building has undergone several extensive renovations since it first opened, with its first major renovation in 1972. An underground walkway linking the hotel with the Royal Bank Plaza and Union Station form part of Toronto's PATH underground city system.

(Submitted on August 16, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Additional commentary.
1. Ontario Heritage Property
The Royal York Hotel is listed as an Ontario Heritage Property as part of the Union Station Heritage Conservation District.

— Submitted August 16, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.

The Royal York Hotel under contruction image. Click for full size.

Toronto Public Library

4. The Royal York Hotel under contruction

<i>Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario</i> image. Click for full size.

Image by Eric Harney, circa 1932

5. Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 4, 2026

6. The Royal York Hotel Marker

The Royal York Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 2, 2026

7. The Royal York Hotel

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 24, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5. submitted on May 24, 2015. 6, 7. submitted on August 16, 2026, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.