Over the past 100 years, the Conrad Hilton’s hotel empire has grown from his first ever hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919, to running and founding over 5,600 hotels across 17 different Hilton brands across 113 countries in 2019. The first ever hotel that Conrad Hilton purchased was the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. Hilton purchased the small 40 room hotel when a bank transaction he initially hoped for fell through, and he decided to take a chance and invest in the hotel with funds he raised from family and friends. Conrad Hilton purchased the hotel in the oil booming Texas area, and the hotel’s occupancy increased by over 300% after Hilton’s purchase as the hotel became a popular stay for the oil miners travelling to and from the area. While Hilton had initially believed he would have a career in banking, the small, simple, brick Mobley Hotel turned out to be the beginning of a profitable and successful career in the hotel industry, and Hilton Hotels to this day remains as a top international luxury and comfort hotel company.

The first hotel purchase indicates that Conrad Hilton succeeded financially and economically, and that he had a strengthened interest in pursuing future hotel investments. Over the next couple decades, the Hilton Hotel empire took shape, as many new hotels were purchased and constructed under Conrad Hilton’s name. Hilton had a keen eye towards where hotels can thrive and where he can bring in profits, while also building a reputation that focuses on luxury stays within America’s cities. The Mobley Hotel proved that Hilton could capitalize on success with hotels constructed in popular locations based on markets and work, and Hilton eventually turned his attention towards Chicago. During the 1940s, with much of the American economy and many businesses past the darkened times led on by the Great Depression, the city of Chicago continued back to its bustling self. And so did the competition for Chicago hotels. Hilton had always been interested in the Stevens Hotel (and also the Palmer House) when he began expanding his hotel chain from Texas to the west coast, east coast, and the midwest. In 1945, Conrad Hilton ended up, after months of struggle, returning home to California with two of the greatest hotels in America and the world, and a key position in the Chicago hotel market. Hilton capitalized on a growing Chicago market and was able to brand his name on the new Conrad Hilton Hotel Chicago (formerly the Stevens Hotel) and the Palmer House, a Hilton hotel. Later Hilton also purchased the Drake Hotel in Chicago. The Conrad Hilton Hotel Chicago flourished under Hilton and through massive renovations and investments to draw in tourists, Chicago natives, and global travelers, the Hilton Hotel Chicago has been nothing shy of a success.

Old Mobley Hotel landmark sign ("Old Mobley Hotel marker"Links to an external site. by QuesterMarkLinks to an external site. is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Links to an external site.)

Old Mobley Hotel external image of the hotel's structure ("Old Mobley Hotel and clock"Links to an external site. by QuesterMarkLinks to an external site. is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Links to an external site.)

Close up of the Old Mobley Hotel enrrance and front rooms ("Old Mobley Hotel"Links to an external site. by QuesterMarkLinks to an external site. is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Links to an external site.)