Secret of the Staircase
1895, a famous hotel, real alligators, and a staircase with secrets beneath it.
Something’s lurking beneath the famous staircase at The Jefferson, Richmond’s historic downtown hotel — and back in 1895, when the hotel opened, real alligators roamed free in the courtyard fountains.
Inside Secret of the Staircase.
Something’s slithering beneath the grand staircase at The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond’s most legendary Gilded Age landmark. Back when the hotel opened in 1895, real live alligators lived in the marble fountains of the Palm Court lobby — until the last of them, Old Pompey, died in 1948. At least, that’s the version most people tell.
Sam, Derek, and Caitlin are at the Jefferson for a fancy weekend wedding, and things keep going missing — a video game, a pair of wedding rings, and then a live alligator, brought in as a nod to hotel history, gets loose in the middle of the rehearsal dinner. When the trio discovers a hidden door at the base of the grand staircase, they follow the trail into the hotel’s sub-basement and find something the staff has been quietly forgetting for over a hundred years.
Secret of the Staircase takes readers inside one of Richmond’s most beautiful and storied buildings — and into the kind of Gilded Age mystery that feels half history, half ghost story.
Inside these pages
Descend the staircase at The Jefferson.
The Jefferson Hotel still stands at the corner of Franklin and Adams in downtown Richmond, and the famous staircase from the book is still there — you can walk it from the upper lobby down into the Palm Court during any visit to the hotel.
Stop in for afternoon tea, take a picture by the marble fountains where alligators really did swim (until 1948, when Old Pompey, the last one, died), and look for the details from Sam, Derek, and Caitlin’s adventure. It’s one of the most movie-worthy hotel lobbies on the East Coast.
The Jefferson Hotel
The real history behind the book
Opened in 1895 by Major Lewis Ginter, The Jefferson was one of the grandest hotels in the South. The marble staircase, Tiffany stained glass, and famous alligators are all real history.
Still operating as a luxury hotel, The Jefferson welcomes visitors to walk the lobby, see the staircase, and have afternoon tea. A photo on the staircase is a Richmond tradition.
Yes — real live alligators lived in the lobby fountains from 1895 to 1948. The last one, Old Pompey, died in 1948. The hotel still has alligator statues throughout as a nod to that wild history.
Free downloadable comprehension quiz, chapter-by-chapter discussion guide, and Gilded Age tie-in materials for Secret of the Staircase.
What readers are saying
“My kids and I LOVE this series!… My daughter places these books right up there with Harry Potter.”
— Parent
“Another fun mystery… quick paced with a great balance of adventure, danger, and possible bad guys… the Virginia history woven into the story; it’s there without feeling like ‘history.’”
— Teacher
“Secret of the Staircase is probably my favorite thus far… the story takes place at the famous Jefferson Hotel in Richmond… extra fun to read the books and then explore the locations.”
— School librarian
“My 9 year old daughter loves them… We both love how Smith combines a mystery with history, and lots of humor! Caitlin is her favorite character.”
— Parent
All 12 Virginia Mysteries
Using Secret of the Staircase in your classroom?
Free comprehension quiz, discussion guide, and One Book, One School program materials available. Plus bulk pricing for classroom sets and signed copies.
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