Blackstone Hotel
Also known as: Sheraton--Blackstone
Why it's listed
Rising 22 stories at the corner of South Michigan Avenue and East Balbo Drive in Chicago, this hotel was designed in 1909 by Benjamin H. Marshall of Marshall & Fox and opened in 1910 for Tracy and John Drake. Its steel frame is clad in pink granite at the base, white glazed terra cotta on the lower floors, red brick above, and a three-story mansard roof. Guest rooms placed bathrooms on exterior walls for direct ventilation, and the hotel had air conditioning and ice water. Most interior finishes survive, including the lobby woodwork, ballroom and guest rooms, though the roof parapet, cornice and former restaurant were altered. The nomination ties the hotel to Chicago social life, as a place where prominent residents gathered, and to national politics. Presidents from Theodore Roosevelt through Richard Nixon stayed here, and the Governor's Suite is linked to the 1920 deal that nominated Warren G. Harding. It won the 1910 Gold Medal of the Illinois Chapter, American Institute of Architects.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is significant for its architecture, as Chicago's premier hotel of its time and a Gold Medal winner in 1910. It also cites social importance as a gathering place for prominent Chicagoans, and political importance as host to presidents and the 1920 'smoke-filled room' deal that nominated Warren G. Harding.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86001005, listed May 8, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 80 E. Balbo Dr., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 8, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001005 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910 - 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Marshall & Fox (Benjamin H. Marshall) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and in commercial use as a hotel, with a theater and nightclub in former public rooms. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.87347, -87.62463 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86001005.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2905596
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.