Hotel DeSoto -- Swimming Pool, Hotel De Soto, Savannah GA

Made in U.S.A. by E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee Wis.

1923-1930

Historic buildings -- Georgia -- Savannah -- Pictorial works.

Hotels -- Georgia -- Savannah.

Architecture -- Georgia -- Savannah.

Savannah (Ga.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.

Preston, William Gibbons, 1842-1910.

Color postcard with divided back and white border, postally unused. Caption from the back of the card: "Hotel De Soto Fireproof Savannah Georgia, J. B. Pound, Pres., Chas. G. Day, V. P. & Mgr. European Plan, Open All Year, Superbly located--covers entire city block, offering splendid auto parking facilities--8900 square feet of porch space." In the 1880’s, Savannah was an important stop in Florida’s burgeoning tourist trade. A railroad to Tybee Island was opened in 1887 with the idea of promoting the beach and Tybee as a resort area. Rail and steamship lines were well in place between Savannah and points north and south. It was hoped that Savannah would become a destination rather than a stopover. A major luxury hotel was the element missing that would draw people to stay in the city. Construction on the Hotel DeSoto began in 1888. It was a Richardsonian Romanesque style building designed by Boston architect William Gibbons Preston. The hotel building took up an entire city block and was constructed of terra cotta, brick, and shingle. Part of the hotel was five stories and the rest was six stories. It had 206 rooms and also housed solariums, a barbershop, drug store, lunchrooms, coffee shops, and a restaurant. There were separate entrances for ladies and gentlemen and large piazzas with rocking chairs. The many brochures in the collection boast of a swimming pool, 18 hole miniature golf course and proximity to tourist attractions, hunting, and fishing.

In 1923, Jerome Pound, who also owned the Hotel Savannah, purchased the Hotel De Soto. Over many years, he spent nearly one million dollars renovating the building. He added air conditioning, the tiled swimming pool, and the gardens. He stated that throughout the modernization, he was ever mindful of the historic beauty and the significance to the community of the hotel. Murals were added to the north and south walls of the lounge. The first mural depicted Fort Pulaski and the second, the founding of Savannah by Oglethorpe. He placed Charles Day, who had worked for him since 1913, at the DeSoto as manager.

The publisher of the postcard was E. C. Kropp, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They published chromolithographic cards and, later, linen cards with a fine grain, between 1907 through 1956.

3481 appears at the top of the address area on the back of the card.

Scholars wishing to cite this item should include item title, Savannah Postcard Collection, MS 016, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the item's url.

Image

Postcard

3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches

Color Lithograph.

MS 016 Savannah Postcard Collection, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections, the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Though this item is believed to be in the Public Domain, copyright may have been retained by the authors or creators of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.