The Exchange Hotel, completed in 1841 in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

was a

Gothic revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

four-story building designed by

Isaiah Rogers Isaiah Rogers (August 17, 1800 – April 13, 1869) was an American architect from Massachusetts who eventually moved his practice south, where he was based in Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. He completed numerous designs for hotels ...

. It was very popular before the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

. The Ballard House opened up across the street in 1855. This five-story Italianate faced onto Franklin Street at the corner of Fourteenth Street. Both establishments were owned by John P. Ballard (1816 - 1878). They were connected at the second level first by a footbridge made of steel, and some years later enclosed in brick. Their old architecture prevented them from being one of the premiere Richmond hotels at the time. U.S. President

John Tyler John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president of the United States, vice president in 1841. He was elected ...

died at the Exchange Hotel in 1862. His widow,

Julia Julia may refer to: People *Julia (given name), including a list of people with the name *Julia (surname), including a list of people with the name *Julia gens, a patrician family of Ancient Rome *Julia (clairvoyant) (fl. 1689), lady's maid of Qu ...

, died there also, 27 years later. It was demolished from 1900-1901, shortly after closing thanks to competition from the newer Jefferson Hotel.

References

External links

Exchange Hotel: Written accounts 1862-1899
Hotels in Richmond, Virginia Hotel buildings completed in 1841 Hotels established in 1841 Buildings and structures demolished in 1900 1841 establishments in Virginia Demolished buildings and structures in Virginia Demolished hotels in the United States {{Virginia-struct-stub