[3] The site had previously been the location of a Victorian Gothic[4] mansion built in 1869 by architect William H. Parkins for businessman John H.

In its first few decades, it hosted meetings for the Atlanta League of Women Voters[22] and served as the headquarters for radio station WATL.

[23] It was a popular venue for many of the big bands that visited Atlanta in the early 1900s,[24] including the Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra.

[28] In the early 1900s, the Kimball House hotel had served as the lodging for state legislators while they were staying in Atlanta, Georgia's capital city.

[29] However, by 1930,[30] the Henry Grady Hotel had become many politicians' Atlanta residences during the legislative sessions,[31][32][33][34][35] and as a result, a great deal of politicking took place in the building.

[30] Influential politician Roy V. Harris had a suite in the building,[36] with former Governor Herman Talmadge later describing it as a smoke-filled room.

In addition to its importance as a place of politicking, multiple individuals have made note of illicit acts and the atmosphere of debauchery that existed in the hotel while the politicians were there.

[12] In a 1992 autobiography, Carter made note to an annual party that politicians held at the hotel on the first day of the legislative session.

[48] Journalists for local newspapers, such as Bill Shipp of The Atlanta Constitution, would sometimes publish accounts of ongoings in the hotel, but many considered the topic off-limits and were largely uncritical of the events unfolding there.

[50] On March 13, 1963, several African American students from the Atlanta University Center attempted to get seats at a restaurant in the hotel's lobby, but were denied based on their race.

[28] Footage of the hotel's demolition was featured in the music video for the Queen and David Bowie song Under Pressure.

The Henry Grady Hotel was located in downtown Atlanta, on the same city block as Davison's flagship department store,[58][59][60] which was completed in the 1920s.