The main entrance of the massive 500-room hotel, the Ambassador Hotel opened in 1921, designed by renowned architect Myron Hunt. It occupied 23.7 acres at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, bordered by Wilshire Boulevard, 8th Street, Catalina Street, and nearly to Mariposa Avenue. The hotel served as the stomping grounds for a staggering list of Hollywood legends, heads of state, and an endless list of famous personalities from the 20th Century. Perhaps as many as seven U.S. Presidents slept there, from Hoover to Nixon, along with heads of state from around the world. A pivotal moment in world history happened at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968; Robert F. Kennedy was shot in a pantry off of the Embassy Room (and died 25 hours later), following his California Primary victory speech. The death of RFK coincided with the beginning of the hotel's demise. The Ambassador Hotel closed its doors forever in 1989; it was demolished between late 2005 and early 2006. Photo dated: September 8, 2004.
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