The Adolphus & Its Annex
by Paula Bosse
The Adolphus Hotel and its annex, circa 1922 (click for larger image)
by Paula Bosse
Built in 1912, the ornate and luxurious Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett-designed Adolphus Hotel (which was modeled on/inspired by the Plaza Hotel in New York) quickly became THE hotel in Dallas. It was so successful that in only four years an expansion was already underway. The 12-story “Annex” (seen above, just to the left of the original building) was designed by preeminent Dallas architects Otto Lang and Frank Witchell. The so-called “Junior Adolphus” was built around 1916/17 and added 229 rooms to Dallas’ most glamorous hotel. A third addition (“Adolphus III”) came along in the 1920s.
Below, a few views of the Adolphus complex at different stages of its growth. (Click photos for larger images.)
*
Built at the northwest corner of Commerce and Akard streets, the Adolphus Hotel was built on the spot previously occupied by the City Hall. This photo, looking northeast, shows the site’s excavation by Vilbig Brothers Construction.
*
In this detail from an April 1913 panoramic photograph of the city’s skyline, the Adolphus can be seen just six months after its opening at the end of 1912. (A previous post devoted to the full panoramic photo can be accessed here.) The Oriental Hotel, with its rounded topknot, can be seen across Commerce from its sister hotel (both were built by beer king Adolphus Busch). Seen in the background is the Praetorian Building — once the tallest structure in Dallas (it is the tall building, second from the right).
*
The the Lang & Witchell-designed annex came along around 1916/17 (see top photo). My favorite detail is what looks like an open-air terrace, with tables and chairs, overlooking Commerce Street.
*
Another view, showing the hotel and annex in 1924.
*
A closer look shows that the terrace is now enclosed.
*
A few years later, a further, taller addition was built.
***
Top photo from the 1922 Yearbook of the Dallas Architectural Club.
Photo of the excavation from Dallas Then and Now by Ken Fitzgerald (San Diego: Thunder Bay Press, 2001); photograph from the Texas/Dallas History and Archive Division of the Dallas Public Library. A similar photo can be seen on the fascinating history page of the Vilbig & Associates website, here.
Detail of 1913 panoramic photo from the Jno. J. Johnson photo in the Library of Congress. (For more info, see previous post, “‘New Dallas Skyline’ — 1913,” here.)
Photo of the Adolphus with the Coca Cola sign in the lower left from Historic Dallas Hotels by Sam Childers (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2010). The author’s extremely informative caption can be read here.
See a wonderful pictorial history of the Adolphus Hotel on the Dallas Morning News website here.
The official website for the Adolphus Hotel is here.
Click photos for larger images.
*
Copyright © 2015 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
Awesome post about the Adolphus! Thanks for mentioning the history pictures we have on vilbig.com for Vilbig Brothers Construction!
LikeLike
Thanks, Jenn. Those photos are really, REALLY great. Vilbig Bros. was incredibly important to early Dallas construction. You must have incredible family photos!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great history lesson. I knew there was an annex, but I had no idea it was built so soon after the original structure. Thanks Paula!
LikeLike
Thanks, Danny!
LikeLike
Thanks, Paula — those are great photos. Bring back some nice memories. They don’t build ’em like that anymore.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Paula, what an informative post! I noted the name of Lang and Witchell. Here is some info from Otto Lang’s findagrave listing. In addition to various parts of the Adolphus project, Lang’s firm designed the Sears building on Lamar, the building now known as Founder’s Square on Jackson St. and many others.
“Mr. Lang was born in Freiberg, Germany. He was the son of William Lang. He received his architectural and engineering training at Karlsruhe Polytechnic Institute in Germany. When he came to the United States on his wedding trip in 1888, he visited Dallas and was so impressed by the possibility it offered to an architect that he decided to move to Dallas. He worked for two years in several architectural offices. In 1890 he was engaged by the Texas & Pacific Railroad engineering department and placed in charge of the architectural and structural design of railroad structures.
In 1905 Mr. Lang established a partnership with Frank O. Witchell as Lang & Witchell. The firm built courthouses, skyscraper office buildings, hotels, schools, civic buildings, banks, etc. A list of the major structures is too long to include in this memorial. Researchers interested in learning more about his professional achievements are encouraged to read newspaper archives. Mr. Lang was often called the dean of the architectural profession in Texas. He retired from his firm in 1942.”
LikeLike
Yes, Lang & Witchell did more than just about anyone to shape the impressive early skyline. And their buildings – large AND small – are beautiful. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The photo that shows workers using steam shovels to excavate the Adolphus’ basement and subbasement has an ad for Armstrong’s Oak Leaf Lard. The company that produced the lard was the Armstrong Packing Company of Dallas. The former owner of this company was John S. Armstrong, co-founder of Oak Cliff, founder of Highland Park and one of the founders of the State Fair of Texas. I say former because he secretly sold the company to J. Ogden Armour in 1906 plus he had been dead for two years when this photo was taken.
LikeLike
Thanks for the additional info, um … “Not Bob.”
LikeLike
[…] Adolphus Hotel — northwest corner of Commerce and Akard, built in 1911/12, designed by architects Barnett, Haynes & Barnett. The Adolphus — the oldest building in this group and the tallest building in the city when it was built — is definitely one the canyon’s anchors, but in the photo above it is mostly — if not entirely — out of frame at the left foreground. […]
LikeLike
[…] Adolphus grew to national prominence over the following decades. By the 1940s, it had undergone a number of expansions to keep up with its growing public profile — not to mention its impressive guest list. The […]
LikeLike
Great post. Wonder if Vilbig Rd. in West Dallas near Sylvan is named after the GC company?
LikeLike
Yes, it’s named after the same Vilbig family.
LikeLike
[…] Pegasus wasn’t added until 1934); to the right, across Akard, is the Adolphus Hotel and the Adolphus Annex. The tall building to the left of the Magnolia is the Southwestern Life Building (southeast corner […]
LikeLike