The Book-Cadillac Hotel in the 1920s

Photo from the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

The Book-Cadillac Hotel in the 1920s

Photo from the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

A dining room at the Book-Cadillac in the 1920s

Photo from the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

The Book-Cadillac in its days under the Sheraton hotel chain

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

A woman sifts through the bargains at a liquidation sale where the Book-Cadillac sold anything not nailed down ahead of its closure.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Escalators in the Book-Cadillac, seen here in 1952, had replaced the grand staircase.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

The Book-Cadillac Hotel has been a landmark on Washington Boulevard for nearly 100 years.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

The Radisson Cadillac, which saw a major renovation in 1978

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Opening ceremonies of the new Radisson Cadillac Hotel in June 1978 after switching over from the Sheraton Cadillac

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Bargain-hunters scour the Book-Cadillac's treasures during a liquidation sale after the hotel closed.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Lois Moore piles pillows in February 1986 at the Book-Cadillac ahead of a liquidation sale after the hotel closed.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

An event in the Grand Ballroom of the Book-Cadillac in September 1941.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Book-Cadillac's statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac gets a bath in May 1939

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

A bridge tournament in the 1940s drew quite the crowd to the Book-Cadillac's ballroom.

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

Hooray! The Book-Cadillac at some event in 1978.

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

The modernized lobby of the Book-Cadillac in the 1970s

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

The Book-Cadillac Hotel in 1935

Photo from the Detroit News archives.

The Book-Cadillac in the 1970s. The Mariner Hotel at right is now a Holiday Inn Express.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Michigan Avenue side of the Book-Cadillac Hotel

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Grand Ballroom of the Book-Cadillac Hotel

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Book-Cadillac in its days as the Sheraton Cadillac.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

A statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac on the Michigan Avenue facade

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Book-Cadillac in its early days. Note the original cornice, which was later removed.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives.

The Book-Cadillac in the late 1920s

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Photo from the Library of Congress.

The Michigan Avenue entrance in its days as the Sheraton Cadillac

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

Looking up the Michigan Avenue facade in the 1970s

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

The Book-Cadillac in its later years as the Detroit Cadillac Hotel.

Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

The Book-Cadillac and Washington Boulevard

Photo from unknown source

The Book-Cadillac under construction

Photo by Knud Lonberg-Holm

The Book-Cadillac under construction

Photo by Knud Lonberg-Holm

Statues of Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, city founder Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Chief Pontiac and Robert Navarre line Michigan Avenue.

Photo from the Detroit Free Press archives

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Co. Courtesy of the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Co. Courtesy of the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Co. Courtesy of the Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Company. Courtesy, Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Company. Courtesy, Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Details of the Book-Cadillac's limestone facade, taken shortly after its completion

Photo from the Indiana Limestone Company. Courtesy, Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana