Palais Wilson, Geneva

Palais Wilson, Geneva

While the presence of the League of Nations in Geneva is most readily associated with the modernist, purpose-built Palais des Nations that now houses the UN, this did not open until 1937. For most of its life, the League was instead housed in a converted hotel. Built in 1875, the luxury Hôtel National was bought by the League in 1920 for 5.5 million Swiss Francs, and became home to the Secretariat, hosting Council meetings and many conferences. In 1924 it was renamed the Palais Wilson in honour of the recently deceased US President Woodrow Wilson, who had done so much to bring the League into being.

United Nations Archives at Geneva