The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco is a luxury hotel located at the top of Nob Hill in San Francisco , California . The hotel is managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group . The chain operates over 5,000 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations. The Mark Hopkins is the oldest InterContinental in the United States.
22-594: The 19th floor penthouse suite was converted in 1939 into the glass-walled Top of the Mark restaurant cocktail lounge. InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America , the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation . Mark Hopkins , one of the founders of the Central Pacific Railroad , chose the southeastern peak of Nob Hill as the site for
44-573: A $ 70 million estate to her second husband, Edward Francis Searles . In 1893, Searles donated the building and grounds to the San Francisco Art Association (now San Francisco Art Institute ), for use as a school and museum. It was called the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and valued at $ 600,000 at the time. The Mark Hopkins mansion survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake ; however, it was destroyed in
66-449: A 1933 bankruptcy, George Smith convinced the trustees of the Mark to spend US$ 110,000 (equivalent to $ 2,415,000 in 2023) to convert the 11-room penthouse on the hotel's 19th floor into a glass-walled cocktail lounge, which became known as the Top of The Mark. Marjorie Trumbull won fame in the 1940s for her radio interviews of celebrities broadcast on KSFO and conducted from the Top of
88-578: A dream home for his wife, Mary. The mansion was completed in 1878, after his death. Since the tower of the mansion was at the time the highest point in San Francisco, Eadweard Muybridge chose to shoot his 1877 panoramic photograph of the city from this location. Mary Sherwood Hopkins , on her death in 1891 at the age of 73, left the Nob Hill mansion and a $ 70 million estate to her second husband, Edward Francis Searles . In 1893, Searles donated
110-545: A long-term contract. The Mark Hopkins became a social center for the city, and is rated AAA Four-Diamond and has won the Gold-Key award. A bronze plaque installed by the California State Park Commission, designating the site California Historical Landmark #754, was commissioned October 20, 1961. The plaque marks the former site of the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art . The Mark Hopkins Hotel
132-464: A long-term lease. In 1967, Loew's Hotels acquired a 99-year lease on the hotel. Lurie accidentally thought he had only agreed to a 25-year lease. A Hawaiian group of investors took over the lease. In 1973, Lurie's heirs signed a long-term management contract for the Mark Hopkins with Inter-Continental Hotels and it became The Mark Hopkins - An Inter-Continental Hotel . The chain acquired
154-408: A long-term management contract for the Mark Hopkins with Inter-Continental Hotels and it became The Mark Hopkins - An Inter-Continental Hotel . The chain acquired the lessee interest in 1983 and the freehold in 2010. Woodridge Capital Partners Affiliates and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management purchased the hotel for $ 120 million in 2014. InterContinental continues to manage the hotel, under
176-724: Is also listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark . Top of the Mark The Top of the Mark is a penthouse level bar located on the nineteenth floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill at California and Mason Streets in San Francisco , California . Located at the highest point of downtown San Francisco, on fog-free days the Top of the Mark has views of the financial district, Chinatown , North Beach , The San Francisco Bay , and of Grace Cathedral and Huntington Park . The Mark Hopkins Hotel
198-474: Is the oldest InterContinental in the United States. The 19th floor penthouse suite was converted in 1939 into the glass-walled Top of the Mark restaurant cocktail lounge. InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America , the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation . Mark Hopkins , one of the founders of the Central Pacific Railroad , chose
220-653: The martini . The bar remains popular today, featuring dancing and live music most days of the week. During the December holiday season, the Top of the Mark offers an afternoon tea service. Mark Hopkins Hotel The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco is a luxury hotel located at the top of Nob Hill in San Francisco , California . The hotel is managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group . The chain operates over 5,000 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations. The Mark Hopkins
242-549: The Mark. During World War II , when San Francisco was a major transit point for troops going to the Pacific Theater , servicemen traditionally had a farewell drink before shipping out while watching the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge . The northwest corner was known as "Weeper's Corner" after the wives and girlfriends who would gather there for their final look at departing ships. A new tradition
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#1732776842337264-544: The Nob Hill site, removed the Art Association building, and began construction of a luxury hotel. The San Francisco architectural firm Weeks and Day designed the 19-story hotel, a combination of French château and Spanish ornamentation. The Hotel Mark Hopkins opened on December 4, 1926. One of the banquet areas, "The Room of The Dons", contains a piece of California history. Nine seven-foot-high panels painted by artists Maynard Dixon and Frank Von Sloun in 1926 for
286-470: The banquet areas, "The Room of The Dons", contains a piece of California history. Nine seven-foot-high panels painted by artists Maynard Dixon and Frank Von Sloun in 1926 for the hotel's opening decorate the upper walls. One panel shows Queen Calafia and her Amazons set against a gold leaf sky. Calafia is the namesake for the state of California. During World War II, the Top Of The Mark lounge
308-430: The building and grounds to the San Francisco Art Association (now San Francisco Art Institute ), for use as a school and museum. It was called the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and valued at $ 600,000 at the time. The Mark Hopkins mansion survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake ; however, it was destroyed in the three-day fire that followed the earthquake. Mining engineer and hotel investor George D. Smith purchased
330-438: The hotel was sold by Smith to Kratter Corp. for over $ 10 million who sold it the following year to San Francisco financier Louis Lurie for over $ 12 million. In 1963, Gene Autry acquired the hotel on a long-term lease. In 1967, Loew's Hotels acquired a 99-year lease on the hotel. Lurie accidentally thought he had only agreed to a 25-year lease. A Hawaiian group of investors took over the lease. In 1973, Lurie's heirs signed
352-422: The hotel's opening decorate the upper walls. One panel shows Queen Calafia and her Amazons set against a gold leaf sky. Calafia is the namesake for the state of California. During World War II, the Top Of The Mark lounge was a favored place for Pacific-bound servicemen and their sweethearts to meet before being deployed. In 1960, the hotel was host to Lance Reventlow and Jill St. John 's wedding. In 1961,
374-417: The lessee interest in 1983 and the freehold in 2010. Woodridge Capital Partners Affiliates and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management purchased the hotel for $ 120 million in 2014. InterContinental continues to manage the hotel, under a long-term contract. The Mark Hopkins became a social center for the city, and is rated AAA Four-Diamond and has won the Gold-Key award. A bronze plaque installed by
396-414: The southeastern peak of Nob Hill as the site for a dream home for his wife, Mary. The mansion was completed in 1878, after his death. Since the tower of the mansion was at the time the highest point in San Francisco, Eadweard Muybridge chose to shoot his 1877 panoramic photograph of the city from this location. Mary Sherwood Hopkins , on her death in 1891 at the age of 73, left the Nob Hill mansion and
418-414: The three-day fire that followed the earthquake. Mining engineer and hotel investor George D. Smith purchased the Nob Hill site, removed the Art Association building, and began construction of a luxury hotel. The San Francisco architectural firm Weeks and Day designed the 19-story hotel, a combination of French château and Spanish ornamentation. The Hotel Mark Hopkins opened on December 4, 1926. One of
440-402: Was a favored place for Pacific-bound servicemen and their sweethearts to meet before being deployed. In 1960, the hotel was host to Lance Reventlow and Jill St. John 's wedding. In 1961, the hotel was sold by Smith to Kratter Corp. for over $ 10 million who sold it the following year to San Francisco financier Louis Lurie for over $ 12 million. In 1963, Gene Autry acquired the hotel on
462-467: Was built by George D. Smith on the site of the old Mark Hopkins mansion, which had burned down following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . The hotel was dedicated in 1926, and the penthouse suite was rented exclusively to Daniel C. Jackling , reputedly at US$ 1,250 (equivalent to $ 22,000 in 2023) per month, until he moved to his house in Woodside in 1936. In 1939, shortly after emerging from
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#1732776842337484-476: Was established during the Korean War, when squadron members would sponsor a "squadron bottle" to be kept available at the bar. Each member would sign and date the label after claiming a free drink, and the man who took the last drink would keep the signed bottle and purchase a new bottle. By the end of the Korean War, thirty-two squadron bottles were in use. The Top of the Mark features over 100 variations on
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