General Post Office and Tariff Building, DC

Last week I attended an event at the Monaco Hotel, one of my favorite buildings in DC, and thought I would share it with you. The hotel actually started out life as the General Post Office in 1839 and was later turned into the Tariff Building. It wasn't until 2002 when the building was converted into a hotel.

Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument, originally designed the structure. Later, Thomas Walter, architect of the U.S. Capitol building, designed an extensive addition. Impressive roots for a mere hotel!

The beautiful plasterwork in the hotel has been expertly restored but what really amazed me was this cantilevered limestone staircase, rising up to the ballrooms on the 4th floor.

 The original iron and wood railing is solid yet elegant.

I have been to the hotel many times to the restaurant, Poste, but had never ventured beyond the lobby. The 4th floor was astounding. The Paris ballroom was designed in the 1860's as the library for the Postmaster General and what a lucky man he was.

The space has the same intricate plasterwork as below but an elliptical, groin-vaulted ceiling contains skylights which flood the vast 3,500sf space with light. No wonder the space is popular with weddings and other events!

The building features extremely wide hallways which are dotted with fashionable furnishings which refer back to the hotel's capital location. Recognize the eagle console from Vanguard?

These chairs appear to have a Fornasetti fabric, does anyone recognize it?  Next time you're in DC take a look around the Monaco Hotel, you won't regret it!