Why Do Hotels Have Bibles? Written by Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,... Melissa Petruzzello Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 4, 2026 •History As you unpack your suitcase in a hotel room, you may notice a Bible tucked quietly into a bedside drawer, often stamped with the words “Placed by the Gideons.” For more than a century, these books have been a familiar sight for travelers, particularly in the United States. Gideons International, a Christian evangelical organization founded in the United States in 1899, began placing Bibles in hotel rooms in 1908, starting with a 25-room Montana hotel....

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