Building Toronto – King Edward Hotel

Black and white image of a crowded ballroom with many patrons who are all formally dressed seated for a meal.

Dinner hosted by Sir John Eaton, King Edward Hotel, 1907. Photographer unknown. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1568, Item 478.

A group of four people, three men and one woman (second from right) stand in front of a hotel. All are wearing hats and long coats.

Photograph of John A. Cooper, actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, and Dr. George E. Smith, in front of the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, 1924. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 2235.

The pinnacle of luxury at the turn of the century

The King Edward Hotel was built by one of Toronto’s “founding families,” the Gooderhams. George Gooderham built upon his father’s distilling fortune during the 19th century by investing in railways, mining, banking, and insurance, before turning his attention to this hotel.

Designed by Henry Ives Cobb of Chicago and Toronto architect E.J. Lennox, the “King Eddy” opened in 1903 and provided first class service and amenities.

The pinnacle of luxury at the turn of the century

Over the last century, it has welcomed international celebrities, including Toronto’s own Mary Pickford. The Beatles stayed here in 1964, during their first tour to Toronto, and were welcomed by over 3,000 fans who packed the streets and crowded the lobby. Five years later, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in the same royal suite to begin their “bed-in for peace.”

The hotel’s fashionable Crystal Ballroom reopened in 2017, following significant restoration.

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