File:City Hotel, Broadway, Manhattan.jpeg

English: Caption: "CITY HOTEL, TRINITY & GRACE CHURCHES. Broadway."

Credit line: "Drawn & Engraved on Steel by A. Dick." (Caption and credit line are uncertain, not entirely legible in source.)

According to Sarah Bradford Landau and Carl W. Condit in Rise of the New York Skyscraper 1865-1913 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996), the City Hotel , designed by John McComb, Jr., and built 1794-6, was probably the first newly built structure in America that qualifies as a hotel. (p. 16)

Fay and Dakin (pp. 22–23) reads in part: "…one of the oldest and most extensive public houses in the city.…It contains one of the most spacious and elegant apartments in the United States, chiefly used for concerts and balls.…The warehouse of R. & W. Nunns, well known as makers of fine pianos, is also seen….About two hundred and fifty instruments are annually manufactured by these superior artizens [sic]. Connected with their rooms is the store of Mr. Hewett, where may be obtained an extensive assortment of music and musical instruments."

Occupying the whole block from Cedar to Thames Streets on the west side of Broadway, extending back to Temple Street, the City Hotel could accommodate 160 people. It had a separate entrance, also on Broadway, for the use of private families and parties. John Jacob Astor bought the hotel in 1828 for $121,000.00. Annual rent: $9,000.00.