The Admiral Hotel
History
Formerly the Admiral Semmes Hotel, the Admiral Hotel was named for Admiral Raphael Semmes, an officer in the Confederate navy during the American Civil War. During the war, he captained the CSS Alabama, a highly successful commerce raider. After the war, Semmes returned to Mobile, Alabama and resumed his legal career.
When it opened in 1940, The Admiral Hotel was the first hotel in Mobile to provide air-conditioning and a telephone in every guestroom. It was also one of three hotels within city limits, and featured a cocktail lounge, coffee shop, drug store, and a National Airlines Office. This Southern gem hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries, among them Congressman Frank Boykin, Bob Hope, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Buffet, and Jimmy Stewart.
The Admiral Hotel was purchased by Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based Thrash Group in 2014. It was thoroughly redesign by architect James Flick, of Dallas-based project development firm Flick Mars. Everything was redone, including the opulent lobby, two new restaurants, and a complete makeover of the original 170 guestrooms into 150 updated guestrooms and 5 luxurious suites on the top floor.
The restrained architectural style of the Depression-era is fully apparent from the outside of the hotel. Upon entering the hotel's lobby, however, gives a contrastingly different impression, with marble floors, an oval-shaped balcony area topped with a chandelier, mirrored walls, and original Art Deco elevator doors. After completing renovations, the hotel re-opened as The Admiral Hotel Mobile, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Located in the heart of Mobile's historic business, entertainment, and cultural district, The Admiral Hotel is within walking distance of the restaurants and shops of the famed Dauphin Street. Nearby, guests can visit notable attractions such as the Mobile Carnival Museum, Fort Conde, and the History Museum of Mobile.
The Admiral Hotel Mobile, Curio Collection by Hilton, a charter member of Historic Hotels of America since 1989, dates back to 1940.
