User:Micahhoekstra/sandbox

Background of the Gotham Hotel
Prior to 1943, the Gotham Hotel had a much different reputation than what it has today. From its construction in 1924 until the early 1940s, the Gotham hotel was similar to any other hotel in Detroit and had an entirely different name, the Hotel Martinique. However, there were not nearly enough hotels that catered to the black community during this time, let alone desirable ones. As a result, In 1943 John White, Walter Norwood, and Irving Roane purchased the hotel with the hopes of making it an oasis for the black community in Detroit. The Gotham Hotel became the most well-renowned hotel for black people in Detroit and regularly hosted popular celebrities and athletes, such as Langston Hughes and Jackie Robinson. It boasted beautiful rooms and critically acclaimed restaurants. After nearly 20 years of success, the hotel closed its doors to the public in 1962.