Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel stands as a luxurious establishment situated across from Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles. Its historical significance is evident as it was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1969 by the city.

Opening its doors on October 1, 1923, the Los Angeles Biltmore was a project brought to life by the nationwide Bowman-Biltmore Hotels chain. Notably, during that era, it held the distinction of being the largest hotel in the United States west of Chicago.

The hotel's exterior was skillfully crafted by the architectural firm Schultze & Weaver, blending elements of Spanish-Italian Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and Beaux Arts styles. This design was a deliberate nod to the Castilian heritage of Los Angeles, prominently featuring the "Biltmore Angel" as a symbol of both the city and the hotel. The building itself boasts a substantial steel and concrete framework, occupying half a city block and soaring to over 11 stories.

Inside the Biltmore Hotel, guests are greeted with an opulent ambiance. The decor includes frescos and murals, intricately carved marble fountains and columns, grand wood-beamed ceilings, travertine and oak paneled walls, elegant lead crystal chandeliers, ornate cast bronze stairwells and doorways, exquisite artisan marquetry and millwork, and lavishly embroidered imported tapestries and draperies. Of particular note are the frescoed mural ceilings in the main Galleria and the Crystal Ballroom, which were meticulously hand-painted in 1922 by the renowned Italian artist John B. Smeraldi, known for his work in prestigious locations such as the Vatican and the White House.