The Sheraton Gunter Hotel is a historic hotel in Downtown

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, USA built in 1909 and designed by St. Louis architect

John Mauran John Lawrence Mauran, FAIA (1866–1933) was an American architect responsible for many downtown landmarks in St. Louis, Missouri. He was also active in Wisconsin and Texas. Life Mauran was born in Providence, Rhode Island and studied at th ...

. It is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

History

The Gunter Hotel opened on November 20, 1909, on the site of the earlier Mahncke Hotel. There had been a hotel or inn on the same site since 1837. The eight-story, 301-room hotel was built by the San Antonio Hotel Company and named for Jot Gunter, a local rancher and real estate developer who was one of its financiers. It was designed by Ernest John Russell, of the St. Louis firm Mauran, Russell & Garden. It was the largest building in San Antonio at the time. The Baker Hotel Company purchased the hotel in 1924 and expanded it in 1926 with the addition of three stories. The addition was designed by architect Herbert M. Greene.Mauran, Russell & Garden It was restored from 1980-1985, overseen by architect Robert V. Buck. At the same time, a two-story parking garage was added adjacent to the hotel, designed by Gustav Heye. It was renamed the Radisson Gunter Hotel in April 1986 and then the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in 1989. It was sold to the Camberley Group in 1996, becoming The Camberley Gunter. It was sold to Houston Street Hotel Partners in 1999 and became, again, the Sheraton Gunter Hotel. The insurance company United Services Automobile Association was formed based on a meeting of twenty five United States Army Officers on June 20, 1922 at the Gunter Hotel to discuss the procurement of reliable and economical auto insurance.

Military use

The Vance House hotel, now the site of the Gunter Hotel, became the administrative offices for the U.S. Army during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

from 1846-1847 as the Headquarters for Texas military affairs. At this site, General

David E. Twiggs David Emanuel Twiggs (February 14, 1790 – July 15, 1862), born in Georgia, was a career army officer, serving during the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and Mexican–American War. As commander of the U.S. Army's Department of Texas when the ...

surrendered $1,600,000 in federal property to the forces of Confederate Texas. The Gunter Hotel was also the site of the headquarters of Brevet Colonel Robert E. Lee who assumed command of the Post of San Antonio on August 5, 1857.

In popular culture

On November 27, 1936, Room 414 of the Gunter was the scene of a historic recording session by blues artist

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

. Talent scout H. C. Speir had arranged the session with

Brunswick Records Brunswick Records is an American record label founded in 1916. History From 1916 Records under the Brunswick label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a company based in Dubuque, Iowa which had been manufacturing produ ...

who set up a temporary studio in the hotel where Johnson recorded a number of songs including the blues classic "

Sweet Home Chicago "Sweet Home Chicago" is a blues standard first recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. Although he is often credited as the songwriter, several songs have been identified as precedents. The song has become a popular anthem for the city of Chicago de ...

". In 2009,

John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrument ...

came to the Gunter to record the track "Right Behind Me" for his album ''

No Better Than This ''No Better Than This'' is the 21st album by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the album was released on August 17, 2010. It was recorded at several historic locations throughout the United Stat ...

'', in the same room where Johnson had recorded in 1936. In 2016 American singer songwriter Joe Henry and British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg recorded a record in room 414 for their '' Shine a Light'' collaboration.

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio Hotel buildings completed in 1909 Hotels in San Antonio Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas Mexican–American War forts