[1][2] Today, the Cairo is a condominium building, home to renters and owners of apartments ranging in size from small studios to multi-level two- and three-bedroom units.

On February 15, 1905, the Cairo swirled with intrigue when, during a labor union strike, painter J. Frank Hanby fell to his death when the ropes supporting him broke.

[6] The ropes were found possibly to have been cut by acid, leading to a grand jury investigation into the cause of death and many high-profile articles in The Washington Post.

The high society of Washington often held meetings at the Cairo Hotel, such as that between the Woman's National Democratic League[7] and a Congressman from New Mexico in 1913.

On June 16, 1906, Congressman Rufus E. Lester, Democrat of Georgia, died after an accident in which he fell through a skylight on the roof of the Cairo, where he resided.

Lester went to the roof to look for his two young grandchildren and apparently missed his footing, and fell about 30 feet through the skylight, and landed on the building's eleventh floor.

- James T. Howard, Manager[9] In June 1940, a newspaper headline reported "Two Bandits Rob Cairo Hotel, Escape in Chase".

In 1954, the Cairo Hotel hosted Sunday mambo parties, played by Buddy Rowell and promoted by Maurice Gervitsch, known as "Groggy".

[14] The Cairo began to decline during the 1960s, when it was inhabited by squatters, prostitutes, drug addicts, student protesters, criminals, and even feral dogs.

[16] After a series of failed attempts at renovation, including a closure on August 7, 1972, the building was restored in 1974 under the leadership of architect Arthur Cotton Moore.

The building was repointed between 2007 and 2009, a $2.1 million project funded by the condominium owners, who paid fees ranging from $7,980 to more than $25,000, depending on the size of their apartments.