Mark Hopkins Hotel

THE MARK HOPKINS HOTEL WAS CONCEIVED, FINANCED  AND BUILT BY COMSTOCK LODE MINING ENGINEER  GEORGE D. SMITH WHO OPERATED IT FROM ITS OPENING  IN DECEMBER 1926 THROUGH JANUARY 1962. HE DIRECTED  THE EVOLUTION OF THE HOTEL FROM A SEMI-RESIDENTIAL  TO A TRANSIENT OPERATION WITHOUT LOSING ITS LUXURIOUS  CHARACTER. IN MAY 1939 HE CREATED THE WORLD FAMOUS AND  MUCH COPIED "TOP OF THE MARK".

IN 1924 HE BUILT THE CANTERBURY HOTEL AND OPERATED IT  FOR FOUR YEARS AND IN 1929 BOUGHT THE FAIRMONT HOTEL  WHICH HE OPERATED FOR TWELVE YEARS. 
A MODEST MAN, GEORGE D. SMITH WAS A TIRELESS HOTEL AND  CIVIC LEADER KNOWN FOR INITIATIVE, RESOURCEFULNESS AND  NEVER-FAILING KINDNESS. 

PLAGUE DONATED BY THE SMITH FAMILY