The story
The Book-Cadillac Hotel opened on December 8, 1924, designed by Louis Kamper for the Book brothers. It was the tallest hotel in the world at the time and the tallest building in Detroit.
On May 2, 1939, Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig told manager Joe McCarthy to leave him out of the lineup against the Tigers, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive games. One account says he collapsed on the hotel's grand staircase that day, while another places the meeting in the hotel lobby and mentions no collapse.
The hotel closed in 1984, was liquidated in 1986 and sat shuttered for about 20 years. After a restoration that began in 2006, it reopened in October 2008 as a Westin with condominiums on the top floors, and Oxford Capital Group bought it in December 2021.
What's There Now
It operates as the Westin Book Cadillac hotel with about 453 rooms and condominiums on the top floors.
Everything that was here
- 1924–present · still open
Book-Cadillac HotelHotel
On May 2, 1939, Lou Gehrig asked to be left out of the Yankees lineup at Detroit, ending his 2,130-game streak; accounts differ on whether he collapsed on the grand staircase.
See the map in 1925 →
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Connected places
Lou Mitchell's
Thaxton Speakeasy
Lamplighter Inn Tavern & Grille
Miller's Pub
Kiel Auditorium (Arena)
McCrory's (CORE Four Site)
Explore the full web of connections on the map.
Nearby history
Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
Crowley-Milner & Company
Book Tower (Restored)
Great Lakes Crossing
Kern's Department Store
Lindell AC Bar
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