The history is available on some documents posted on the web, but I cannot include links in my answer. The rooms that I saw were not good. I saw three and they all were small, with old furniture and smelling musty. Bathrooms are even worse, with old plumbing, cracked tiles, toilets that don't flush, etc... I visited in summer and air conditioning did not work. However, the building itself is worth a visit, the view is amazing and the food very good.