Stanley Turkel Livres

The book delves into the evolution of American hotels from the pre-Civil War era, highlighting their cultural significance and accessibility to the average citizen. It examines how the rise of travel and transportation, particularly the transcontinental railroad and later highways and air travel, spurred hotel development by notable figures like Henry Flagler and Conrad Hilton. The author uncovers intriguing, lesser-known stories of these hoteliers, emphasizing their non-traditional backgrounds and the unique contributions they made to the hospitality industry.

The book delves into the complex and often overlooked history of post-Civil War Reconstruction, highlighting the struggles faced by freed slaves and their allies in a hostile South. It showcases the emergence of talented black leaders who made significant contributions in government, despite rampant violence and oppressive laws. By presenting biographical sketches of 16 key figures, the narrative aims to correct misconceptions and honor the efforts of those who fought for civil rights and national healing during this turbulent period.

Focusing on seventeen lesser-known hotel pioneers, this sequel explores their significant contributions to the development of the U.S. hotel industry. Through captivating and unpredictable narratives, it sheds light on figures often overlooked in American history, revealing their impact on hospitality. The book serves as a tribute to these influential individuals and their enduring legacies in shaping the hotel landscape.

My long-time preoccupation with hotel history reveals one continuous the achievements of unique entrepreneurs who created singular hotels one at a time. These pioneers were not by subsequent definition, “hotel men”. They did not attend hotel schools because there were none until 1924 with the creation of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. Most of them did not grew up in the hotel business but became successful because of their varied on-the-job training experiences, business acumen and unexpected opportunities. Their tradition-breaking vision and single-minded ambition led them to create iconic hotels. My research has uncovered three such hotel mavens two of whom 1) were both essentially in the railroad and steamship business 2) were friendly competitors 3) concentrated their hotel creations in the State of Henry Morrison Flagler, on the east coast and Henry Bradley Plant on the west coast. The third maven was Carl Graham Fisher who created Miami Beach and Montauk, Long Island, N.Y.