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All the United States Arizona Tucson Hotel Congress

Hotel Congress

Sleep where gangsters fell amidst smoke and flame, with nary a bullethole to show for the legendary struggle.

Tucson, Arizona

Added By
Jared Steed
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Make your own escape through the historic lobby   _gee_ on Flickr
Make your own escape through the historic lobby   _gee_ on Flickr
Looming large above the city   regan76 on Flickr
Sunset comes to the Congress Hotel’s antique marquee   juliejordanscott on Flickr
Trod where gangsters hath rolled   On the White Line on Flickr
  Gogostevie / Atlas Obscura User
  Gogostevie / Atlas Obscura User
  Gogostevie / Atlas Obscura User
Rear entrance & restaurant taken December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Switchboard in hotel lobby   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Old Photo Booth   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Front entrance Taken December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Rear entrance for train passengers. Photo taken December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Interior Pillar Photo taken December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Old switchboard in hotel lobby December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
The old Taproom December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Plaque outside of Hotel December 2023   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Hotel Congress Lobby   desertdweller84 / Atlas Obscura User
Front of Hotel Congress   desertdweller84 / Atlas Obscura User
Hotel Congress from Congress St.   desertdweller84 / Atlas Obscura User
Hotel Congress Painted Sign   desertdweller84 / Atlas Obscura User
Hotel Congress Entrance   desertdweller84 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the Tap Room  
Wine chandelier in the bar area   krose8711 / Atlas Obscura User
Classic cars lined up outside Hotel Congress   Provided by Visit Tucson
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
Lobby   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
Front   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Hotel Congress   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Gogostevie / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Have a stay in Tucson, Arizona's Congress Hotel. Just be warned about two things: one, it is lovely and historic, and two, you may get swept up in some sort of reenactment of John Dillinger's capture. 

This classic hotel, built in 1919, looks like something straight out of the classiest parts of the Jazz Age. Built on the newly paved Congress Street where it still stands, the swanky hotel even looked classy back in the day. Of course all of this splendor in the otherwise developing town managed to attract some high-profile clientele, including some of ill repute. Namely, John Dillinger and his gang.

They were staying in the hotel on the night of January 22, 1934, when a fire started in the hotel. Fleeing for their lives, the outlaws evacuated the building, leaving behind luggage containing their weapons and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. As they had checked in under aliases, they tried to maintain their cover, paying off a couple of local firemen to go back for the luggage. However the firefighters managed to piece together who the ne'er do wells were, and they were swiftly arrested by the Tucson Police Department.To commemorate their brush with crime, the hotel hosts the Dillinger Days festival each January. So if you happen to find yourself at the hotel around then and someone asks you to go get their luggage for them, just say no.  

Today, the hotel has been restored to a regal splendor that stands out even more in the modern age. Although rumors still abound of haunted rooms from decades past. 

Related Tags

Hotels Gangsters John Dillinger Places To Stay

Community Contributors

Added By

steedjb

Edited By

littlebrumble, CorpseLady84, gretch, atvall...

  • littlebrumble
  • CorpseLady84
  • gretch
  • atvall
  • krose8711
  • Kirsten Madsen
  • ccesare
  • chasepopt
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • AuntBandaid
  • Gogostevie
  • pcranny
  • desertdweller84

Published

December 6, 2015

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Sources
  • http://hotelcongress.com/history/john-dillinger/
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Congress
Hotel Congress
311 East Congress Street
Tucson, Arizona, 85701
United States
32.222324, -110.96662
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Rattlesnake Bridge

Tucson, Arizona

miles away

John Dillinger Courtroom

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miles away

El Charro Cafe

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tucson

Tucson

Arizona

Places 40
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Rattlesnake Bridge

Tucson, Arizona

miles away

John Dillinger Courtroom

Tucson, Arizona

miles away

El Charro Cafe

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tucson

Tucson

Arizona

Places 40
Stories 4

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