Beyond its status as a luxury hotel, The Plaza Hotel has achieved a rare distinction: it is a cultural icon. Its opulent halls and iconic facade have provided the backdrop for countless films, its guest registry reads like a who's who of the 20th and 21st centuries, and the events held within its walls have often made front-page news. The Plaza isn't just a setting for history; it is a character in the story of New York City.

Silver Screen Star

By the year 2000, The Plaza had become New York's most popular film site. Its cinematic legacy began with Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller North by Northwest, featuring a memorable scene in the Oak Bar. It continued with classics like The Way We Were (1973) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993), where its Fifth Avenue entrance framed key romantic moments. For a generation, the hotel is forever linked to the blockbuster Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), in which Macaulay Culkin's character Kevin McCallister lives out every child's dream of having a luxurious hotel all to himself. More recently, it was the setting for the climactic scene in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (2013).

A Who's Who of Famous Faces

The list of illustrious guests is as long as it is impressive. The Beatles sparked pandemonium during their first visit to America in 1964, holding a press conference in the Baroque Room. F. Scott Fitzgerald found inspiration within its walls for The Great Gatsby. Frank Lloyd Wright resided in a suite for six years. Truman Capote hosted his legendary "Black & White Ball" here in 1966, attended by a who's who of society. Other famous residents and visitors have included Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and countless presidents and world leaders.

Unforgettable Moments in Time

The Plaza's history is punctuated by events that transcended the hotel itself. In 1969, the National Organization for Women (NOW) staged a sit-in at the men-only Oak Room, leading to the policy being rescinded months later. The hotel has hosted legendary society weddings, including Patricia Kennedy to Peter Lawford in 1954 and Julie Nixon to David Eisenhower in 1968. In 1995, the entire hotel was illuminated in violet light to promote the first-ever Victoria's Secret fashion show held within its walls.

This deep integration into the fabric of popular culture ensures that The Plaza is more than just a place to stay; it is a living monument to American glamour and history. To understand the full scope of its journey, read about the complete history of The Plaza Hotel.

Photo courtesy of The Plaza.