Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Chelsea Hotel has an illustrious and occasionally dark history. It is known for being a major center of bohemian and artistic life in New York City. The hotel has been the home of a number of prominent artists, musicians, writers and philosophers.
The hotel was built in 1883 and opened the next year as a private apartment cooperative. At the time, it was the tallest building in New York City. In 1905, the building became a hotel.
The Chelsea Hotel is notable for having a number of famous guests who have lived there for extended periods. Some of them include Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe, Dylan Thomas, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin.
The hotel was the site of the murder of Nancy Spungen, and her boyfriend, Sid Vicious of the band the Sex Pistols, was charged with the crime but died of a heroin overdose before the trial. The English rock band the Libertines recorded some of their songs from their album, "Babyshambles Sessions," at the Chelsea Hotel in 2003.
As of 2010, the Chelsea Hotel no longer accepts long-term residents. Guests are limited to 24 nights there.