18 Photos That Show Why New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Is So Legendary
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5432dba569bedd730cd2a55d-1200-600/waldorf-astoria-park-avenue-entrance.jpg" border="0" alt="Waldorf Astoria Park Avenue Entrance">
The iconic Waldorf-Astoria hotel is being sold to the Chinese <span>insurer Anbang Insurance Group Co. Ltd for about $1.95 billion</span>.
The 121-year-old hotel is a landmark in New York City: It has hosted dignitaries, politicians, and world-famous celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace. It has also served as the home away from home for every US president since Herbert Hoover and has hosted foreign royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
And now it's entering a new chapter, though Hilton will continue to manage the property.
<span>Rooms in the Waldorf begin at $399, while rooms in the Towers begin at $699 for suites and $1,299 for presidential-style suites.</span>
<h3>The Waldorf hotel first opened in 1893 on the corner of 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue. A few years later, it joined the nearby Astoria hotel and got the name Waldorf-Astoria, after its two owners: William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5432eaf66da8112676e4abbd-400-300/the-waldorf-hotel-first-opened-in-1893-on-the-corner-of-33rd-street-and-fifth-avenue-a-few-years-later-it-joined-the-nearby-astoria-hotel-and-got-the-name-waldorf-astoria-after-its-two-owners-william-waldorf-astor-and-john-jacob-astor-iv.jpg" alt="" />
Source: Waldorf Astoria
<h3>The hotel moved to its current location, on 50th Street and Park Avenue, in 1931. When it first opened, President Herbert Hoover said that it was "an event in the advancement of hotels."</h3>
<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54330a346bb3f7ce35f96af0-400-300/the-hotel-moved-to-its-current-location-on-50th-street-and-park-avenue-in-1931-when-it-first-opened-president-herbert-hoover-said-that-it-was-an-event-in-the-advancement-of-hotels.jpg" alt="" />
Source: Waldorf Astoria
<h3>Conrad Hilton bought the hotel in 1949, and Hilton has managed the historic property ever since.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5432f29aeab8ea0628fce97f-400-300/conrad-hilton-bought-the-hotel-in-1949-and-hilton-has-managed-the-historic-property-ever-since.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Today, the hotel maintains its historic grandeur. Guests entering from Park Avenue face this formidable lobby.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5432ef776da8117f0fe4abb7-400-300/today-the-hotel-maintains-its-historic-grandeur-guests-entering-from-park-avenue-face-this-formidable-lobby.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The public areas have luxurious marble floors and classic, elegant furnishings.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/54330b88ecad04bb63f96aef-400-300/the-public-areas-have-luxurious-marble-floors-and-classic-elegant-furnishings.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Peacock Alley is a restaurant located right inside the lobby. </h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5432eeffeab8eabd1efce983-400-300/peacock-alley-is-a-restaurant-located-right-inside-the-lobby.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Guests used to come here to see and be seen. </h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5432f04569bedd2874d2a55d-400-300/guests-used-to-come-here-to-see-and-be-seen.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The classic Waldorf Salad, with apples, celery, and walnuts dressed in mayonnaise, was born here.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5432f15deab8ea7c26fce979-400-300/the-classic-waldorf-salad-with-apples-celery-and-walnuts-dressed-in-mayonnaise-was-born-here.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The hotel is also home to the dark wood-paneled Bull and Bear Prime Steakhouse.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5432f2c66da811041ee4abb5-400-300/the-hotel-is-also-home-to-the-dark-wood-paneled-bull-and-bear-prime-steakhouse.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The guest rooms are decorated in a classic New York style, and they have great views of the Manhattan skyline.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54330920ecad044854f96af7-400-300/the-guest-rooms-are-decorated-in-a-classic-new-york-style-and-they-have-great-views-of-the-manhattan-skyline.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, the private hotel occupying the top floors of the property, is home to 123 suites. </h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/54330ad16bb3f7eb39f96aef-400-300/the-towers-of-the-waldorf-astoria-the-private-hotel-occupying-the-top-floors-of-the-property-is-home-to-123-suites.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The Towers recently introduced "suite specialists" who cater to the guests of this hotel-within-a-hotel, offering everything from personal butler and concierge service to odd requests like raising the height of the toilets.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/543308efecad047458f96af4-400-300/the-towers-recently-introduced-suite-specialists-who-cater-to-the-guests-of-this-hotel-within-a-hotel-offering-everything-from-personal-butler-and-concierge-service-to-odd-requests-like-raising-the-height-of-the-toilets.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The hotel puts its rooftop to good use, cultivating gardens of fresh vegetables and herbs and beehives for honey.</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5432effaecad044674d2a561-400-300/the-hotel-puts-its-rooftop-to-good-use-cultivating-gardens-of-fresh-vegetables-and-herbs-and-beehives-for-honey.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>The Waldorf has hosted dozens of famous guests, including Elizabeth Taylor.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5432f01d6da811b618e4abb3-400-300/the-waldorf-has-hosted-dozens-of-famous-guests-including-elizabeth-taylor.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Lena Horne sang there.</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5432f0a0eab8ea1f1ffce97e-400-300/lena-horne-sang-there.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>And every US president since Herbert Hoover has slept in the Presidential Suite. </h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/543304d0eab8ea8d7826f4fc-400-300/and-every-us-president-since-herbert-hoover-has-slept-in-the-presidential-suite.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>There's a hidden train tunnel that runs from Grand Central to the base of the Waldorf Astoria. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used this secret tunnel to enter the hotel so that people didn't know he was in a wheelchair. </h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5433079c6bb3f78127f96af2-400-300/theres-a-hidden-train-tunnel-that-runs-from-grand-central-to-the-base-of-the-waldorf-astoria-president-franklin-delano-roosevelt-used-this-secret-tunnel-to-enter-the-hotel-so-that-people-didnt-know-he-was-in-a-wheelchair.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>There's so much history here that the hotel has its own archives.</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/543307036da811dd0cdfdaf1-400-300/theres-so-much-history-here-that-the-hotel-has-its-own-archives.jpg" alt="" />
<h3>Now see some more great American hotels.</h3>
<img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5429b9256bb3f7777036fb08-400-300/now-see-some-more-great-american-hotels.jpg" alt="" />
<h2>The 20 Best Hotels In America ></h2>
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