Hotel Sonesta At 1700 Smith St.

[Subdude]

The Chronicle article is incorrect in saying that the hotel opened as the Whitehall in 1963.  Before it was the Whitehall it operated as the Hotel America and the Hotel Sonesta.

[sevfiv]

3 hours ago, Subdude said:

The Chronicle article is incorrect in saying that the hotel opened as the Whitehall in 1963.  Before it was the Whitehall it operated as the Hotel America and the Hotel Sonesta.

This is correct - here is a 1970 Hotel/Motel Red Book listing:

and post card from when it finally became the Whitehall:
http://arch-ive.org/archive/whitehall/