The Hotel Mark Twain is a tribute to its famous author. Originally built as the Linden Hotel in 1928, it was renamed the Hotel Mark Twain during the Great Depression. The name changed again with another owner but soon returned to the Hotel Mark Twain and has remained so to this day.
In the late 40’s the hotel was made infamous with the arrest of the great blues singer Billie Holiday in room #203. Federal narcotics agents found her in possession of opium and a pipe. The case went to trial and she was acquitted however, the incident earned a listing in the “Top Ten Famous Hotel Rooms”.
“I have done more for San Francisco than any other of its old residents. Since I left there it has increased in population fully 300,000. I could have done more—I could have gone earlier—it was suggested.” MARK TWAIN
Born in the year 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was an American author and humorist. Better known as Mark Twain, the pseudonym he derived from the call of Mississippi boatmen sounding the depth of the river, he is most noted for his novels of the young Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
In 1864 Mark Twain went to San Francisco where worked for several newspapers. His wit and satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. A few of his sketches were reprinted in eastern publications and brought about national prominence.
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” MARK TWAIN
