I created this project through a large amount of research based on one question I had posed. I mainly focused on finding historical newspapers in the ProQuest historical newspapers database. My research question pulled up a wide range of information causing me to have to focus on just a few pieces. That is how I chose the main two places of the Willard Hotel and the Ebbitt.
There were a few websites produced by each place that provided information on the history of the establishment, but I mainly found my resources on the George Mason University library database. The ProQuest Historical Newspapers database had many articles from the Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, and the Los Angeles Post.
The challenges I faced during this research was finding what terms to search for. It was difficult in the beginning because I was searching too broadly. The Ebbitt Grill, as it is called today, has had many different names throughout history. In the 1800’s The Ebbitt Grill wasn’t yet a restaurant, it was a hotel called the Ebbitt House. This was difficult because researching I wasn’t sure if they were the same thing, but then learned that the Ebbitt House eventually became the Old Ebbitt Grill.
I was surprised when I found out that the Old Ebbit Grill was once owned by one of the Willard brothers. I had no idea, before conducting my research, that these two establishments had any connection besides being known for hosting many political figures.
I learned many things through this research. The biggest thing, and the over all idea of what I learned was the importance of the hotel and restaurant business to the policial buisness.