The Jefferson Hotel

Alligator at the entrance. kararothenberg (Atlas Obscura User)

Originally opened in 1895 by Lewis Ginter, a giant in the tobacco industry, the hotel is still in use as one of the most beautiful, opulent places to visit in the city. At one point, they hosted alligators in the pools, and one of them is honored in statue form at the main entrance. Legend has it that the staircase in the lobby was the inspiration for the one used in Gone with the Wind.