Old Astor House on Broadway

The old Astor House on west side of Broadway, between Barclay St. and Vesey Street, north of St. Paul's Chapel. The historic Astor House was built by John Jacob Astor, who already owned another iconic hotel in New York: the City Hotel. Astor Horse opened its doors in 1836. It was a massive structure of granite, spacious and well arranged, having a frontage on three streets, with the Park fountain in front. Photo by Robert L. Bracklow, 1899. Source: New-York Historical Society.

It had its own gas manufacturing plant that supplied gas lighting throughout the building. A steam engine in the basement provided water to all floors. Daily menus were printed in the basement by the printing press of the hotel.