Jun 19, 2011

Hotel Thomas Jefferson V

Posted by: Naaman

Five trips and I find something new every time. Another room. Another angle. Another amazing collection of artifacts.

And in this case, a newly drained basement. Flooded for over twenty years, now available to explore freely without the use of waders and garbage bags.

Same darkness, same diseases, no brown water.

More entries from this location can be found here, here, here, here, and here.


1.
Above the City

2.
K

3.
Key to the Ladies Room

4.
UHF Dial

5.
Once underwater

6.
Well-Equipped

7.
HOTEL THOMAS JEFFERSON

8.
Bolt

9.
Basement Sink

10.
Wall Rug

11.
Facade

12.
Switch

13.
Cabana Downtown

14.
View

15.
Basement Televisions

16.
Under the Sidewalk

17.
Basement Keys

18.
Tubes

19.
Hotel Thomas Jefferson Envelope

20.
Ivories

21.
Basement Boilers

22.
High Capacity Basement Dryer

23.
Snoopy for President

24. 1080


19 comments:

  1. These are great photographs!...All of your work is right up my alley. Love it! I have become very interested in studying the history of the Thomas Jefferson hotel. How were you able to get these pictures?

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  2. Replies
    1. History moves forward,I remember it as the premier hotel of the 60's,in time it will meet the same fate as the Tutwiler,as of now,2015 it is the last building in the world with a zeppelin mooring mast.My imagination can only ponder the future,back to forest?or dwellings for those not born yet.Time will tell,by the way I helped build the First Ala Bank building where the old Tutwiler was,(currently Regions) in 1976 or so,we'll see.Thanks for preserving this old beauty digitally.

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  3. I began following your blog today and I am so glad that these pictures are available. I lived in the Phoenix Lofts across from the Cabana and, no joke, would sit on my couch with binoculars looking in the windows. I am, needless to say, infatuated with this building. If you go back, I would love to tag along.

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  4. What window were you able to get into? I just went there and was able to get into the cabana hall. But that doesn't seem to connect to the hotel.

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  5. Oh it connects to the hotel. On the far right side (if you are looking at the front of the hotel. There is a lone door. However, it has been boarded up in the past. Not sure what the current state is.

    The window I got in was right in the front. There is just wood there now I would assume.

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  6. We stayed there one night in the mid 60s when we came down for one of our regular trips to see the A's play. I was probably about 9 years old and I thought we "blanking" in tall cotton.

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  7. I've got a few other posts from this location you might be interested in. Glad I could bring back some old memories!

    http://leftbirmingham.blogspot.com/search/label/Leer%20Tower

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  8. Hey Naaman, I just came across a love letter written on the stationary of the "Hotel Thomas Jefferson" Birmingham, ALA. Unfortunantly it is not dated, the only date reference is Mon. Even and is addressed, "My Own Darling". I have the first page and believe I have the rest, I will dig. I found it in a tin my husband's grandmother had. I know it is not to her and since she passed in 2003 at 96, I really have no way of knowing. If anyone is interested in seeing it let me know.

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  9. Absolutely. Shoot me an email: octoberfletch gmail.com

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  10. Didn't Led Zeppelin leave theirlast radio masthead icon there in the late 70s. The Leers put itback on. Where is it

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  11. how did u get in do u need permission cause i would like to take some pictures of my own in that building

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  12. I have the same question. I know this was a while ago, but talk about unique photographic opportunities! Who actually owns the building now???

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  14. from what I've heard the building is going under reconstruction

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  15. Is any of your work for sale? I'm not the kind to screen shot and hang it about my house (tacky)... But I'm telling you- if you did an exibition at artwalk or that sassy store by Silvertron or just had an online store, I would be on board to buy a few prints.
    love your work! I'm looking for abandoned performance spaces and these are magic

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    1. I've been asked before but only recently have I seriously considered it. Thank you for your compliments!

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