Taken in 1912, this photo shows The Plaza Hotel as it looked just five years after it opened its doors on October 1, 1907. It was designed by American architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in the style of a French Renaissance chateau. The hotel was named for its location: Grand Army Plaza in Manattan.

In June 1949, Frank Sinatra gets a haircut in his suite at The Plaza. His favorite barber, Frances E. Murphy, had a shop in Manhattan's financial district, but for Ol' Blue Eyes, she made house calls.

In October 1961, Audrey Hepburn filmed an interview at The Plaza Hotel. LIkely she discussed one of her most famous films, "Breakfast at Tiffany's," which premiered the same month.

Clockwise from left, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon greet fans below the window of their Plaza hotel room in February 1964. It was the Beatles' first U.S. tour.

Truman Capote's Black and White Ball in the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza on Nov. 28, 1966 was such a legendary event that it spawned a 2006 book, "Party of the Century." For his escort, the "Breakfast at Tiffany's" author chose Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post.

At the front of The Plaza Hotel is the fountain "Abundance," by sculptor Karl Bitter. The figure of Pomona, Roman goddess of orchards, was based on actress and model Doris Droscher, who also posed for the Standing Liberty Quarter, a U.S. coin.

On the north side of Grand Army Plaza, site of The Plaza Hotel, stands a gilded bronze statue of General Sherman on horseback. It is by Irish-born American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who created other famous Civil War monuments and designed several famous American coins as well.

The Plaza Hotel's Terrace Room, a major venue for weddings, has been redesigned since this photo was taken in 2005.

Elegance and opulence mark this foyer inside The Plaza Hotel. This photo was taken March 16, 2005, only weeks before The Plaza closed temporarily to undergo partial conversion to condominiums. Though there is a condominium portion today, most of The Plaza still consists of hotel rooms.

Fireworks lit the sky to commemorate the 100th birthday of the legendary Plaza Hotel on Oct. 1, 2007. The event was celebrated with a party and a 1-ton cake.

Arguably The Plaza's most famous resident is Eloise, heroine of a series of beloved children's books. A portrait of Eloise hung in the Plaza's lobby before it was closed for renovations in 2005; here it is unveiled again on May 14, 2008. Marking the occasion are young actress Jordana Beatty, slated to play Eloise in an upcoming movie, and Plaza general manager Shane Krige.

"Bride Wars" (2008) with Anne Hathaway (left) and Kate Hudson includes scenes shot in The Plaza's Grand Ballroom, Terrace Room, and Palm Court. It is only one of many movies that use The Plaza as a backdrop; others include "North by Northwest" (1959), "Plaza Suite" (1971), and "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993).

The Plaza makes a perfect backdrop for music videos as well as weddings. Here singer Mariah Carey appears during filming for her video "Obsessed" on June 29, 2009.