The Aldine Hotel

This is the site of the Aldine Hotel, where Oscar Wilde stayed beginning January 16, 1882. On an American tour from his native Ireland, Wilde arrived in Philadelphia via train from New York. He was accompanied by his tour organizer, Col. W. F. Morse, and a correspondent from the Philadelphia Press, who reported his “eager interest” on his arrival. The days ahead were filled with receptions hosted by local literati and a lecture filled with 1500 people. Writing home to a friend, Elizabeth Lewis, in a letter in The Rosenbach’s collection Wilde said, “Everything is going on brilliantly.”

Click here to see the letter:

https://rosenbach.org/wilde-in-philadelphia-walking-tour/wilde-letter-to-elizabeth-lewis-combined/