Monroe Hotel Building

When the Monroe Hotel opened in 1921, it was one of many hotels in the area that catered to the needs of traveling workers following the relocation of Union Station from the West Bottoms. The hotel filled a need for affordable accommodations and housed mostly single workers and traveling salesmen as it was within walking distance to the rail station and other businesses in the area, including restaurants, barbershops, drug stores, and post office. In the years that followed, the hotel also accommodated many guests of political machine boss Tom Pendergast, especially after he purchased the building in 1924. A couple years later, Pendergast built the Jackson County Democratic Club in the adjacent lot which included a doorway between his second level office and the hotel. The door was sealed in 1939 after orders from a Federal judge following Pendergast's release from prison. The hotel stayed in operation until 1971 and was later renovated into luxury condominiums.

The Monroe Hotel was designed by architect Raymond Sanneman and opened in 1921. The relocation of Union Station from the West Bottoms in 1914 was allowing the expansion of industry and business to the south of downtown, including restaurants, barbershops, drug stores, a hospital, and a post office. This expansion also created a need for affordable accommodations in the area, for both workers and travelers. Built within walking distance, Monroe Hotel was a budget hotel that typically housed single workers and traveling salesmen who found it necessary to live within close proximity to their employment. 

Political boss Tom Pendergast (1872-1945) bought the hotel in 1924 and hired the hotel's original architect Sanneman two years later to design a two-story building adjacent to the hotel. As this building served as the Jackson County Democratic Club and Pendergast headquarters, Monroe Hotel accommodated many of Pendergast's out-of-town visitors. Boss Tom eventually had a door installed connecting his second-level office directly to the hotel, allowing for a convenient and clandestine exit. This door was sealed in 1939 on orders from a Federal court following the release of Pendergast's’ imprisonment for tax evasion. Tom was barred from any further political activity. The hotel remained in business until 1971.

The five-story Monroe Hotel is a Commercial style building, typical for the location and time. Costing around $150,000, it was constructed from reinforced concrete, brick, and terra cotta veneer on the façade of the two lower levels. While the large marquee above its center entrance still boasts the name ‘Monroe Hotel’, it has more recently been renovated into the Hotel Monroe Condominiums. 

Missouri MPS Monroe Hotel, National Archives Catalog. Accessed November 16th 2021. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63817557.