One of Derby City’s most iconic hotels is turning triple digits this fall.
The Brown Hotel, lauded for being the birthplace of the Hot Brown sandwich, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel, and Southern Living’s “Best Hotel in Kentucky,” is gonna party like it’s 1923 over the next six months to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
While The Brown has become a household name to most Louisvillians, if you didn’t know or just need a quick refresher, here are a few fast facts about this local landmark — pay attention, we’re quizzing you later.
- The 16-story hotel was built in 1923 in the Georgian Revival-style.
- Funded and owned by James Graham Brown — yeah, that James Graham Brown.
- Opened as a direct competitor to The Seelbach Hotel a few blocks away.
- Was a nightly attraction to hundreds of people throughout the 1920s for its dinner dances, which was how the Hot Brown came to be in 1926.
Now, let’s party.
Sip, sip hooray
To kick off celebrations, The Brown will host a custom, tableside mint julep experience in the Lobby Bar and Grill starting in April and last through the Kentucky Derby season. A $100 Old Carter mint julep will be assembled and presented at your table.
Stay the night
A special room rate that pays homage to the hotel’s opening year will be offered through June and July at $19.23. Typically, rooms range from $216 to over $500 — with the most expensive room in the building being the Muhammad Ali Apartment, which starts at $966 per night.
Let’s dance
On Wednesday, October 25 a roaring 1920s-themed gala will top off The Brown’s 100th anniversary in the Crystal Ballroom. Dinner, dancing, interactive tours of the hotel, and themed cocktails in the rooftop garden will all be part of the itinerary. Tickets aren’t available yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted.
