User:ChrisNigg/sandbox

Christopher Thomas Nigg
Born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico.

The Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, formerly known as the St. Louis Hotel was a major center for culture and social interactions. The St. Louis was located on the French Side of the Garden District. Upon its opening, it hosted 600 guested across its 3 floors and ballrooms. The famous New Orleans dish Gumbo, was supposedly invented there by a Spaniard working at the exchange. The St. Louis also claims to have invented the Cocktail or the Coquetier. However, after this the Hotel had a span of rough years where it went from owner to owner, leading it to eventually deteriorate.

The original hotel was the host to a wide range of important people as well. Pre-Civil War the hotel was host to a large number of balls and meetings. The most famous being the "bal travesti", where On occasion, the state legislature would hold sessions in the hotel's grand rotunda. After World War II a replica of the old St. Louis Hotel was built. It immediately became popular and hosted a slew of important and well-known individuals. It had a wide range of guest from all walks of life, especially in the music industry. One such guest was Luciano Pavarotti, an esteemed Italian opera singer. Another famous resident of the hotel was, the Rolling Stones. This wolrd famous, and staple rock group resided within the Hotel. Other Musicians to reside within the Hotel were Patti Labell ( a well-known pioneer of disco), Harry Connick Jr., Three Dog Night and Louis Armstrong (whose last stay in New Orelans was in this hotel). Other guests include Paul Newman, Jane Fonda, Lillian Carter, Don King, David Brinkley, Robert Redford, Charlton Heston, Bette Davis, Nina Ricci, Arthur Hailey (who wrote the book Hotel about his stay at the Hotel) and Lassie the Dog. Yet another famous guest is the world-renowned boxer, Muhammad Ali. Political figures alike also have resided within the Hotel, the most famous being the infamous President Richard Nixon.