1907: The Plaza opens. One of the first guests, Enrico Caruso, is so annoyed by the hum of the clock in his room that he attacks it with a knife.

1925: F. Scott Fitzgerald, who frequented the Plaza, sets part of "The Great Gatsby" there.

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Mickey Pierce (left) and Tony Guerrero, who likely will lose their longtime jobs as doormen at the Plaza hotel if it is turned into private condos, join a rally in front of the hotel.
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1943: Conrad Hilton buys the hotel.

1953: Frank Lloyd Wright moves in for six years while he supervises building of the Guggenheim Museum.

1955: Singer Kay Thompson publishes the first "Eloise" book, about a girl who lives at the Plaza.

1958: Alfred Hitchcock shoots part of "North by Northwest" in the Oak Bar.

1964: The Beatles check in during their first appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

1966: Truman Capote stages one of the century's most celebrated parties, the Black and White Ball, in the Grand Ballroom.

1968: Neil Simon's play, "Plaza Suite," is set at the hotel.

1988: Donald Trump buys the Plaza.

1993: In a twist on "Eloise," Macaulay Culkin takes up residence in "Home Alone 2."

2004: Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who bought the Plaza in 1995 in partnership with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, sells to new owners who plan to convert most of the property into condos.

Source: "At the Plaza" by Curtis Gathje.