Jerry Summers
The first modern hotel in Birmingham (The Magic City) was built in 1914 by two prominent businessmen, Robert Jemison, Jr. and George Crawford Major Tutwiler, who was the main financial supporter through his Tutwiler Coal and Coke Company.
The hotel was originally built in order to convince the American Iron and Steel Institute to have its annual convention in Birmingham. At the time it was erected there were no other luxury hotel accommodations and the Tutwiler would be considered one of the finest hotels in the country. Today a portion of it remains but at a different location. Originally the hotel was built on the corner of 20th Street and 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.
Like all luxury hotels of the time it had a spectacular era of galas, famous guests and historical events. Several high-profile events were held there such as Tallulah Bankhead’s post wedding party.
Another was a press conference held by Charles Lindbergh on his nationwide tour with the Spirit of St. Louis. He was promoting aviation after his Atlantic crossing from New Jersey to Paris in 1927.
Unfortunately, like many other grand hotels of the era that have been razed, the Tutwiler also slowly deteriorated to the point where it was closed and faced demolition. In 1974 it finally reached the point where the original hotel was imploded.
After a 12-year absence the name Hotel Tutwiler rose like a phoenix out of its ashes and took over the Ridgely Apartments a few blocks away on Park Place, thus reinstating the absence of the name Hotel Tutwiler from its downtown landscape after an absence of 12 years.
In 1985 the City of Birmingham was awarded an Urban Development Act grant and with some private financing the old hotel was re-opened. The original marble floors, exterior and vaulted railings were maintained in its renovation. Many modern amenities such as a fitness center, business center, signature restaurant and suites have been added. Only a swimming pool is missing but the hotel’s history of offering rooms with a view was included as all of the 149 rooms feature expansive windows that show off the city scape of the modern Birmingham.
Like all grand luxury hotels of the past the Tutwiler has its stories of its resident “ghost”. The hotel’s story is that Major Tutwiler, who formerly lived at the Ridgely Apartments, decided to stay at the new Hotel Tutwiler and that his spirit has the bad habit of knocking on doors at late hours and is known as The Knocker. Other tales claim he sometimes causes havoc in the bar and restaurant.
One story goes that a bartender got in trouble because he allegedly left the lights and stoves on after closing hours for several nights. The manager came in early one morning to discover that someone had prepared a large meal and drank a bottle of wine. Thus, developed its tradition of the staff addressing the ghost of Major Tutwiler with the words “Goodnight Major” and asking him not to mess up the kitchen.
The hotel is now officially the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Tutwiler Birmingham, Alabama. It is located at 2021 Park Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
Centrally located and reasonably priced, a stay at the Tutwiler gives a visitor an enjoyable historical trip to the past era if you don’t meet the ghost of Major Tutwiler or hear from “The Knocker.”
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Jerry Summers
(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
Tutwiler Hotel