Queen's Hotel

The north side of Front Street just west of Yonge Street has long been the site of a hotel. The 'Ontario Terrace' of houses were built in 1843 (which you can see in the 1867 photo below) then became known as the Sword's Hotel in 1853, then from 1860 to 1862 the Revere House. It was finally renamed the Queen's Hotel in 1862, and remained as such until it was purchased by the Canadian Pacific Railway and torn down in 1927 to build the present Royal York Hotel.

The Queen's Hotel was one of the city's most prestigious, and advanced, hotels - the first in Canada with a central hot air furnace, a passenger elevator, and running water and bathtubs in the rooms.

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of hotels photos.

1846 Historic photo from 1846 - Photograph of a lithograph showing Sword's Hotel on Front Street (Queen's Hotel until 1927) in Financial DistrictPhotograph of a lithograph showing Sword's Hotel on Front Street (Queen's Hotel until 1927)
177 years ago - Financial District - 1846
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1855 Historic photo from 1855 - Queen's Hotel, Front St. W., n. side, between Bay & York Sts in Financial DistrictQueen's Hotel, Front St. W., n. side, between Bay & York Sts
168 years ago - Financial District - 1855
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1867 Historic photo from 1867 - Queens Hotel before it expanded - photo by Octavius Thompson in Financial DistrictQueens Hotel before it expanded - photo by Octavius Thompson
156 years ago - Financial District - 1867
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1880 Historic photo from 1880 - Queens Hotel - guests by the fountain at east side, showing Holland House in background in Financial DistrictQueens Hotel - guests by the fountain at east side, showing Holland House in background
143 years ago - Financial District - 1880
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1888 Historic photo from 1888 - Queens Hotel on Front Street West (where Royal York is now) in Financial DistrictQueens Hotel on Front Street West (where Royal York is now)
135 years ago - Financial District - 1888
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1890 Historic photo from 1890 - Queens Hotel on Front Street with many trees in Financial DistrictQueens Hotel on Front Street with many trees
133 years ago - Financial District - 1890
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1908 Historic photo from 1908 - Queen's Hotel looking west across Front Street in Financial DistrictQueen's Hotel looking west across Front Street
115 years ago - Financial District - 1908
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908 Historic photo from 1908 - Baker making fresh bread at the Queens' Hotel in Financial DistrictBaker making fresh bread at the Queens' Hotel
115 years ago - Financial District - 1908
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911 Historic photo from 1911 - Sunroom in the Queens Hotel in Financial DistrictSunroom in the Queens Hotel
112 years ago - Financial District - 1911
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911 Historic photo from 1911 - Drawing room with ornate woodwork and wallpaper (Queens Hotel) in Financial DistrictDrawing room with ornate woodwork and wallpaper (Queens Hotel)
112 years ago - Financial District - 1911
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911 Historic photo from 1911 - Writing room in the Queen's Hotel (previously the Revere House) in Financial DistrictWriting room in the Queen's Hotel (previously the Revere House)
112 years ago - Financial District - 1911
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911 Historic photo from 1911 - Carved black walnut buffet made by Jacques and Hay for Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 (won 1st place) in Financial DistrictCarved black walnut buffet made by Jacques and Hay for Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 (won 1st place)
112 years ago - Financial District - 1911
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from 1912 - Walker House Hotel in centre, Queens Hotel on left, open space site of future Union Station in Financial DistrictWalker House Hotel in centre, Queens Hotel on left, open space site of future Union Station
111 years ago - Financial District - 1912
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from 1912 - Open centre-hall plan with sitting rooms on either side (Queen's Hotel) in Financial DistrictOpen centre-hall plan with sitting rooms on either side (Queen's Hotel)
111 years ago - Financial District - 1912
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Thursday, October 21, 1915 - Close up of Queens Hotel from Union Station site in Financial DistrictClose up of Queens Hotel from Union Station site
108 years ago - Financial District - Thursday, October 21, 1915
Max temp: 17.2°C - Min temp: 7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Tuesday, October 12, 1915 - Union Station excavation across the street from the Queens Hotel in Financial DistrictUnion Station excavation across the street from the Queens Hotel
108 years ago - Financial District - Tuesday, October 12, 1915
Max temp: 20.0°C - Min temp: 7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Thursday, October 21, 1915 - Union Station site looking north across Front Stree to the Queens Hotel in Financial DistrictUnion Station site looking north across Front Stree to the Queens Hotel
108 years ago - Financial District - Thursday, October 21, 1915
Max temp: 17.2°C - Min temp: 7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927 Historic photo from 1927 - Removing furniture at the closing of the Queen's Hotel in Financial DistrictRemoving furniture at the closing of the Queen's Hotel
96 years ago - Financial District - 1927
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927 Historic photo from 1927 - Looking south across fountain to Union Station from grounds of Queens Hotel in Financial DistrictLooking south across fountain to Union Station from grounds of Queens Hotel
96 years ago - Financial District - 1927
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927 Historic photo from 1927 - Queens Hotel on Front St. W. before demolition in Financial DistrictQueens Hotel on Front St. W. before demolition
96 years ago - Financial District - 1927
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1928 Historic photo from 1928 - View of Front Street from Walker House Hotel (Queens Hotel and Union Station) in Financial DistrictView of Front Street from Walker House Hotel (Queens Hotel and Union Station)
95 years ago - Financial District - 1928
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)