Book-Cadillac 100th Anniversary Exhibition

When it opened on December 8, 1924, thirty-three-story Book-Cadillac Hotel was the tallest building in Detroit and the tallest hotel in the world. The elegant Louis Kamper-designed building at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Michigan Avenue featured 1,136 rooms (each with private bath), several luxurious ballrooms, and a WCX radio broadcast station.

For decades, the hotel operated under numerous owners, but closed in 1984 after a mixed-use conversion plan fell through. The Book-Cadillac sat vacant for nearly two decades and fell into disrepair before the Cleveland-based Ferchill Group acquired it in 2006 and completed a $200 million dollar, two year renovation. In 2008, the building reopened as a 453-room Westin hotel with 65 condominium units, which continues to welcome guests today.

Exhibition Opening on October 17, 2024!

As the hotel prepares to mark its 100th anniversary, the Detroit Historical Society has partnered with the Westin Book Cadillac team to create an on-site historical exhibition to recognize its century of history.

Starting on Thursday, October 17, the free exhibition will be open daily from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the hotel lobby. Celebrate the first day with exhibition tours on the hour with DHS Chief Exhibitions & Enrichment Officer Tracy Irwin and Director of Collections & Curatorial Jeremy Dimick. 

Do you have an item or story from the Book-Cadillac's history to share? Contact Tracy Irwin at tracyi@detroithistorical.org to find out how you can contribute to the exhibition.