The Magnificent Hotel Astor

Frederick and William C. Muschenheim planned the massive hotel when the area was still dubbed Longacre Square. At the time, the area was a far more subdued part of town, but the Muschenheim brothers correctly read the winds of change. The brothers leased the land from William Waldorf Astor (who would lend the hotel its name) and construction began in 1902.

Though few may know of it today, the Hotel Astor was the heart of Times Square for decades. Built at the heart of the theatre district, the Astor was a glamorous destination that helped bring the area to life.