San Marcos Hotel, 1913

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The San Marcos Hotel opened in 1913, and was the centerpiece of Dr. A.J. Chandler’s planned community, which he marketed as the Pasadena of the Salt River Valley

Upon completion, Roosevelt Dam seemed to ensure a steady supply of water for the valley. Dr. Alexander J. Chandler and his partners realized that the 18,000 acres of Chandler Ranch would be much more valuable as real estate than farm land. They planned to create a new community on the south side of the Salt River that became known as Chandler. At the center of this new town would be a grand resort hotel, the likes of which Arizona had never seen.

Dr. Chandler originally planned for the grand resort to be constructed in Mesa. However, for various reasons, those plans fell through. He selected a California architect, Arthur Burnett Benton, to design the crown jewel of his desert empire. Benton was noted for his work on the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA.

To ensure the building would be fireproof, the hotel was constructed of steel reinforced concrete, the first building of its kind in Arizona. Miles of copper wiring and more than 1,500 electric lights made the building glitter throughout the day and night.  It was the first in Chandler to be electrified.

Finally, on November 22, 1913, the San Marcos Hotel opened for business with much fanfare and a grand opening celebration. Five hundred people attended, including Vice President Thomas Marshall, Arizona Governor George W. P. Hunt, and U.S. Representative Carl Hayden. The hotel became Dr. Chandler’s home, where he lived until his death in 1950. This shining jewel has remained as the center of downtown Chandler, with the entire community expanding outwards from the hotel.