𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟒, 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲.

The Ansonia Hotel, a Beaux-Arts style building located at 2109 Broadway in Manhattan, first opened its doors in 1904. One of the unique and whimsical features of the Ansonia's early years was the presence of live seals in its lobby fountain.

The Ansonia has hosted a number of notable guests over the years, including:

• Babe Ruth, the legendary baseball player.
• Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite and amateur soprano known for her lack of singing ability, who lived there from the 1930s until her death in 1944.
• Enrico Caruso, the famous Italian operatic tenor.
• Arturo Toscanini, the renowned conductor.
• Igor Stravinsky, the influential composer.
• Ezra Pound, the poet.
• The Continental Baths, which occupied the basement and were famously frequented by stars like Bette Midler and Barry Manilow in the 1970s.

As of today, the Ansonia is no longer a hotel. It has been converted into a residential condominium, offering luxury apartments. The building retains much of its historic charm and architectural beauty, serving as a notable example of New York City's early 20th-century architecture.