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		Photograph of a lithograph showing Sword's Hotel on Front Street (Queen's Hotel until 1927) 178 years ago - Financial District - 1846 Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1855		Queen's Hotel, Front St. W., n. side, between Bay & York Sts 169 years ago - Financial District - 1855 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1867		Queens Hotel before it expanded - photo by Octavius Thompson 157 years ago - Financial District - 1867 Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1880		Queens Hotel - guests by the fountain at east side, showing Holland House in background 144 years ago - Financial District - 1880 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1888		Queens Hotel on Front Street West (where Royal York is now) 136 years ago - Financial District - 1888 Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1890		Queens Hotel on Front Street with many trees 134 years ago - Financial District - 1890 Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1908		Queen's Hotel looking west across Front Street 116 years ago - Financial District - 1908 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908		Baker making fresh bread at the Queens' Hotel 116 years ago - Financial District - 1908 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Sunroom in the Queens Hotel 113 years ago - Financial District - 1911 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Drawing room with ornate woodwork and wallpaper (Queens Hotel) 113 years ago - Financial District - 1911 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Writing room in the Queen's Hotel (previously the Revere House) 113 years ago - Financial District - 1911 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Carved black walnut buffet made by Jacques and Hay for Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 (won 1st place) 113 years ago - Financial District - 1911 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Walker House Hotel in centre, Queens Hotel on left, open space site of future Union Station 112 years ago - Financial District - 1912 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Open centre-hall plan with sitting rooms on either side (Queen's Hotel) 112 years ago - Financial District - 1912 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915		Close up of Queens Hotel from Union Station site 109 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		Union Station excavation across the street from the Queens Hotel 109 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		Union Station site looking north across Front Stree to the Queens Hotel 109 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		Removing furniture at the closing of the Queen's Hotel 97 years ago - Financial District - 1927 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927		Looking south across fountain to Union Station from grounds of Queens Hotel 97 years ago - Financial District - 1927 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1927		Queens Hotel on Front St. W. before demolition 97 years ago - Financial District - 1927 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1928		View of Front Street from Walker House Hotel (Queens Hotel and Union Station) 96 years ago - Financial District - 1928 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)