{{Short description|Hotel in Northwest Washington, D.C.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} [[Image:Omni Shoreham Hotel from the south on a sunny summer morning.jpg|300px|thumb|upright=1.364|Omni Shoreham Hotel]] The '''Omni Shoreham Hotel''' is a historic resort and convention hotel in Northwest [[Washington, D.C.]], built in 1930 and owned by [[Omni Hotels]]. It is located one block west of the intersection of [[Connecticut Avenue]] and Calvert Street. The hotel is known for having been a regular venue for [[Mark Russell]] and the [[Capitol Steps]]. It is a member of [[Historic Hotels of America]], the official program of the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]].<ref name=hha>{{cite journal|title=Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC, a Historic Hotels of America member|url=http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/omni-shoreham-hotel-washington-dc/|publisher=Historic Hotels of America|access-date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>
==History== ===First Shoreham Hotel=== [[File:Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C..jpg|thumb|left|upright|The first Shoreham Hotel, {{Circa|1916}}]] The first Shoreham Hotel was constructed in 1887 by [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Levi P. Morton]]. It was designed by the New York firm of [[Hubert, Pirrson & Company]] and was located at 15th and H Streets NW. Morton named the hotel for his birthplace, [[Shoreham, Vermont]]. The hotel was expanded in 1890 and extensively renovated in 1902 and 1913. The Shoreham went bankrupt in 1927 and was sold to developer [[Harry Wardman]], who demolished the hotel in 1929 and replaced it with the Shoreham Office Building, designed by [[Mihran Mesrobian]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2010/01/old-shoreham-hotel-at-15th-and-h.html | title=The Old Shoreham Hotel at 15th and H Streets NW |website=Streetsofwashington.com}}</ref> That structure was itself converted to a hotel in 2002, becoming the Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2002_2nd/Apr02_SofitelDC.html | title=Architects Brennan Beer Gorman Convert the Shoreham Office Building in Washington DC to the Sofitel Lafayette Square / April 2002 | website=Hotel-online.com }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
===Second Shoreham Hotel=== The modern Shoreham Hotel was constructed by developer Harry M. Bralove as a resort hotel, situated in the leafy [[Woodley Park]] neighborhood, well outside the heart of the city. The hotel was designed by Washington architect [[Joseph H. Abel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/Architects%20Bios%20A%20and%20B.pdf |format=PDF|title=Joseph henry Abel|website=Planning.dc.gov|access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref> Construction began in 1929 and the hotel celebrated its grand opening on October 30, 1930, with a party attended by 5000 people.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/omni-shoreham-hotel-washington-dc/history.php | title=Hotel History in Washington, D.C. | Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC |publisher=Historic Hotels of America }}</ref> The enormously popular singer [[Rudy Vallée]] was booked to play the grand opening, but he had to fly down after a scheduled evening show at the [[Brooklyn Paramount Theater]]. Vallée's small plane encountered a storm after leaving [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark Airport]], and was forced to touch down at [[Camden Central Airport]]. Vallée gave an impromptu concert there, as he and his band waited for the weather to clear. They finally reached Washington's [[Naval Support Facility Anacostia|Bolling Field]] at 3:15am and made their way to the Shoreham. They performed for the 1000 remaining guests from 4:15 to 4:30am, before leaving for [[Washington Union Station]], to take a train back to New York for an 8am rehearsal.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/03/18/if-these-hotel-rooms-could-talk/57808f12-5b85-4b89-9e51-d80e6dcdac5a/ |title=IF THESE HOTEL ROOMS COULD TALK... |date=1990-03-18 |author1=Sarah Booth Conroy |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref>
On 4 March 1933, the [[First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt|first inaugural]] ball of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was held at the hotel. The hotel was outfitted with a special ramp and elevator to accommodate the needs of the new president, who used a wheelchair due to his physical disability. Subsequently, the Shoreham hosted inaugural balls for every president of the 20th Century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/omni-shoreham-hotel/trust |title=Overview of Shoreham Hotel |publisher=Historic Hotels of America |access-date=15 Nov 2011}}</ref> President [[Bill Clinton]] played the [[saxophone]] at his inaugural ball held at the hotel on 21 January 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://photo2.si.edu/inaugural/clinton1/clinton1.html |title=Bill Clinton First Inaugural |date=7 October 2011 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228194249/http://photo2.si.edu/inaugural/clinton1/clinton1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Roosevelt-Suite-Shoreham-DC.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The glass-enclosed balcony of the Roosevelt Suite at the Shoreham Hotel, the 1942–1944 wartime home of [[Manuel L. Quezon]] ]] Philippine President [[Manuel L. Quezon]] had his official residence in the Shoreham Hotel, during the period the [[Government in exile of the Commonwealth of the Philippines|government-in-exile]] of the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] was established in Washington, D.C. from May 1942 until his death in August 1944. The third-floor suite (the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] suite) he and his family stayed in was fully enclosed, and the glassed-in balcony can still be seen to this day. During that time, the [[Flag of the Philippines|Philippine]] and [[Flag of the United States|American]] flags flew outside the hotel.<ref>Molina, Antonio. ''The Philippines: Through the Centuries''. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Cooperative Press, 1961. Print.</ref>
Dr. [[Christian J. Lambertsen|Chris Lambertsen]] demonstrated his [[Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit]] (LARU) MK II, an oxygen [[rebreather]], to individuals who were in the process of forming a maritime unit for the [[Office of Strategic Services]] (OSS) in November 1942 at the Shoreham Hotel.<ref name=butler>{{cite journal |author=Butler FK |title=Closed-circuit oxygen diving in the U.S. Navy |journal=Undersea Hyperb Med |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=3–20 |year=2004 |pmid=15233156 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/3986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613163441/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/3986 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |access-date=2009-03-18 }}</ref><ref name=KTVZ2013>{{cite news |author=staff |title='America's first frogman' dies in Bend at 95 |date=2013-10-30 |publisher=[[KTVZ]] |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/americas-first-frogman-dies-in-bend-at-95/-/413192/22721664/-/3rvpg/-/index.html |access-date=2013-11-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103195817/http://www.ktvz.com/news/americas-first-frogman-dies-in-bend-at-95/-/413192/22721664/-/3rvpg/-/index.html |archive-date=2013-11-03}}</ref>
In 1944, [[Ed Heinemann]] of [[Douglas Aircraft]] designed the [[Douglas A-1 Skyraider|AD-1 Skyraider]] on the back of an envelope overnight at the Shoreham when he arrived in Washington to discover that the U.S. Navy had made last minute changes in their request for a replacement for the [[SBD Dauntless]] dive bomber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/skyraiders-torpedo-the-hwachon-dam/|title=Skyraiders Torpedo the Hwachon Dam|website=Defensemedianetwork.com|access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref>
The Shoreham was largely a residential hotel until 1950, when it began converting to house transient guests.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> Over the years, the Shoreham has been the Washington home of many prominent politicians, including [[Stuart Symington|Senator Stuart Symington]] from Missouri. During the late 1940s and early 1950s when he was first [[Secretary of the Air Force]], Symington was known to host President [[Harry S. Truman]] for all-night poker games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/omni-shoreham-hotel/history.php |title=Shoreham Hotel History |publisher=America's Historic Hotels |access-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>
On February 10, 1964, [[the Beatles]] booked the entire 7th floor of the hotel for one evening while they were in Washington to give a concert at the [[Washington Coliseum]] during their first American tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wamadc.com/wama/beatles.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321041505/http://www.wamadc.com/wama/beatles.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 21, 2006 |title=Beatles First US Concert |publisher=Washington Area Musicians Association |access-date=15 Nov 2011}}</ref> Later that year in December, [[Denny Doherty]] performed his first show with [[John Phillips (musician)|John Phillips]] and [[Michelle Phillips]], as [[The New Journeymen]]. With the addition of [[Cass Elliot]], they would go on to be known as [[The Mamas & the Papas]].<ref>Phillips, J., Elliot, C., Phillips, M., Doherty, D., Hall, G., Hall, M., et al. (1988). ''Straight Shooter: The story of John Phillips and the Mamas & the Papas''. Santa Monica, CA: Rhino Home Video.</ref> The [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] took place at the Omni from 2006 through 2009.<ref>High spirits and low expectations at CPAC [http://www.amconmag.com/article/2008/feb/25/00016/ amconmag.com]</ref><ref>CPAC 2007 [http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=2670 nraila.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203031725/http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=2670 |date=2010-12-03 }}</ref><ref>CPAC 2006 [http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=1911 nraila.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203052242/http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=1911 |date=2010-12-03 }}</ref>
In 1973, the hotel was sold to Chicago real estate investor Lester Meilman's MAT Associates. They retained Americana Hotels, the hospitality division of [[American Airlines]], to manage the hotel, which was renamed the '''Shoreham Americana Hotel'''. In 1980, Dunfey Hotels, the hospitality division of [[Aer Lingus]], purchased the hotel in partnership with New York developer [[William Zeckendorf Jr.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1979/12/29/dunfey-to-run-shoreham/643df13a-ac6e-4386-bee7-bfc1f6c54aa0/ |title=Dunfey to Run Shoreham |date=1979-12-29 |author1=Jerry Knight |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref> Dunfey assumed management in January 1980 and renamed the hotel '''The Shoreham, a Dunfey Hotel'''. In 1983, Dunfey Hotels acquired Omni International Hotels, forming a new chain, [[Omni Hotels & Resorts]]. The hotel was renamed the '''Omni Shoreham Hotel''' in 1985.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/>
The Shoreham was featured in the 1987 film ''[[No Way Out (1987 film)|No Way Out]]'', when the character played by [[Kevin Costner]], Commander Tom Farrell, first meets the character Susan Atwell played by [[Sean Young]] at an [[United States presidential inaugural balls|presidential inaugural ball]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://movie-tourist.blogspot.com/2012/09/no-way-out-1987.html|title=Movie Tourist: No Way Out (1987)|website=Movie-tourist.blogspot.com|date=9 September 2012|access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref> In the 2003 film [[Shattered Glass (film)|''Shattered Glass'']] about the journalism scandal at ''[[The New Republic]]'' perpetrated by [[Stephen Glass]], the hotel is mentioned by name and a fictional version is depicted, as Glass claims to have attended a conference of [[Young Republicans]] held there.
==Alleged haunting== The hotel's owners accepted Henry L. Doherty as a minority financial partner.<ref name="Omni">[http://www.omnihotels.com/upload/images/hotels/wassho/pdf/shorehamhistory.pdf Colbert, Judy. "Omni Shoreham Hotel: A Brief History." Omni Shoreham Hotel. No date.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018004458/http://www.omnihotels.com/upload/images/hotels/wassho/pdf/shorehamhistory.pdf |date=2006-10-18 }} Accessed 2009-10-14.</ref> Doherty and his family moved into an apartment (now Suite 870) in the hotel, along with their maid, Juliette Brown.<ref name="Omni" /><ref name="Nuzum">[https://washingtonian.com/2007/11/01/i-aint-afraid-of-no-ghost/ Nuzum, Eric. "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost."] ''[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian]].'' November 1, 2007.</ref> A few months after the Dohertys moved into the apartment, their maid died in the night.<ref name="Omni" /><ref name="Nuzum" /> Dohertys' daughter Helen lived to be over 50 years old and died in Denmark. She did not die in the suite.<ref name="Omni" /><ref name="Nuzum" /> The Dohertys moved out, and the apartment remained unoccupied for almost 50 years.<ref name="Nuzum" /> The apartment was renovated into a hotel suite. But guests and hotel staff began to tell stories of faint voices, cold breezes, doors slamming shut and opening of their own accord, and televisions and lights turning on and off on their own.<ref name="Omni" /><ref name="Nuzum" /> Guests in adjoining suites would complain of noises coming from the closed and empty Suite 870.<ref name="Omni" /><ref name="Nuzum" /> Other occupants say furniture would be found out of place, and hotel staff said their housekeeping carts would move on their own.<ref name="Nuzum" /> The Omni Shoreham Hotel has named the room the "Ghost Suite".<ref name="Omni" /> Todd Scartozzi, an [[Omni Hotels]] manager, stayed in the Ghost Suite with his family and observed a [[walk-in closet]] light turning off and on of its own accord.<ref name="Nuzum" />
==Rating== The AAA gave the hotel four diamonds out of five in 2001. The hotel has maintained that rating every year, and received four diamonds again for 2016.<ref>{{cite report|author=American Automobile Association|title=AAA/CAA Four Diamond Hotels|date=January 15, 2016|page=1|access-date=May 3, 2016|url=http://www.aaa.biz/Travel_Information/Diamonds/Awards/2016/January%202016%20-%204D%20Hotels%20-%20FINAL.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128041225/http://www.aaa.biz/Travel_Information/Diamonds/Awards/2016/January%202016%20-%204D%20Hotels%20-%20FINAL.pdf|archive-date=January 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Forbes Travel Guide]] (formerly known as Mobil Guide) declined to give the hotel either four or five stars in 2016, and did not put it on its list of "recommended" hotels.<ref name=forbes>{{cite web|title=Forbes Travel Guide 2016 Star Award Winners|website=Forbes Travel Guide|date=February 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016|url=http://www.forbestravelguide.com/about/awardwinners}}</ref>
In March 2017, [[Cvent]], an event management company, ranked the Omni Shoreham 79th in its annual list of the top U.S. hotels for meetings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Neibauer|first=Michael|title=Six D.C.-area hotels land in Cvent's top 100 for U.S. meetings|work=Washington Business Journal|date=March 28, 2017|access-date=March 29, 2017|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/03/28/six-dc-area-hotels-land-among-rank-for-us.html}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/washington-dc-shoreham Official site] * [https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/washington-dc-shoreham/property-details/history Hotel history] * [http://ghostsofdc.org/2012/02/15/suite-870-the-haunted-ghost-suite-at-the-omni-shoreham-hotel/ Suite 870: the Haunted “Ghost Suite” at the Omni Shoreham Hotel] - Ghosts of DC history blog
{{Commons category}} {{Omni Hotels & Resorts|state=expanded}} {{Hotels in Washington D.C.}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|38|55|21|N|77|3|12.6|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Hotels in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1930]] [[Category:Hotels established in 1930]] [[Category:Reportedly haunted locations in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:1930 establishments in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Historic Hotels of America]] [[Category:Omni Hotels & Resorts]]