1924. Calvin Coolidge was president, the Ford Model T Tudor was one of the most popular vehicles on the roads, and it was the year the Francis Marion Hotel opened its doors at 387 King St.
Yes, your math is correct. The historic hotel is celebrating 100 years on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Quick facts about the hotel
- Named after Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, aka “Swamp Fox”
- 12 stories tall
- 235 guestrooms and suites
- Cost of $1.5 million to build
- Restored in 1996
- Home to the Swamp Fox Restaurant
- Houses The Spa of Charleston
The hotel’s website notes the 1920s as the Golden Age of railroads, radio, and grand hotels, and that the Charleston Renaissance was booming and the Francis Marion Hotel was a hub for artists and writers.