Area less than one acre Architect Gentry, Alonzo H. Added to NRHP February 29, 1980 | Built 1928 (1928) NRHP Reference # 80002316 | |
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Location 23 S. 8th St., Columbia, Missouri | ||
The Tiger Hotel is a hotel in Columbia, Missouri. Built as a hotel in 1928, the building later housed a retirement home and banquet center. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 2012, the building was fully restored and reopened as a boutique hotel. Currently, the Tiger Hotel remains fully functional as a luxurious boutique hotel and maintains a prestigious 4-diamond rating.
History
In the 1920s the Tiger Hotel was designed by renowned architect Alonzo H Gentry. The building finished construction in 1928 by the Simon Construction Company. Upon opening, the building was the first skyscraper between Kansas City and St. Louis. It originally opened with over one hundred rooms, a fully operational elevator, and a cooling system which were impressive feats at that time. The magnitude of the building and its features quickly drew attention from around the state. As a result of the Tiger Hotel's popularity, the "Tiger" sign on top of the building became an icon in the city of Columbia and surrounding areas.
Over the 20th century, the building remained iconic but was not always a roaring success. The rise and decline of the economy affected the hotel like any other business in the country. Therefore, the building had several owners throughout the decades. One owner even turned the building into a Motor Hotel to meet the needs of residents in Columbia and surrounding areas.
In 1987 the Tiger Hotel was turned into a retirement community to make use of the vast number of rooms and other facilities on site. In 2011, the hotel building was sold again and obtained a new life from optimistic ownership. The building underwent a complete renovation, restoring the prestige and glory from its vibrant past. In a wondrous transformation, the Hotel kept many of its original features but complements them with modern features and decorations. Now, as of 2014, the hotel offers 62 boutique rooms and suites with 4-Diamond rated luxuries and amenities.