HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA

By Jeff & Stephanie Sylva

Discerning travelers choose their accommodations with an eye toward quality and high standards. But deciding which quality hotel to stay at can be a daunting task. Many travelers have come to recognize the consistent authenticity, historic significance, and sense of place that members of the Historic Hotels of America are known for. This official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes, celebrates, and promotes the finest historic hotels. A major component of the Historic Hotels of America program is how the member hotels represent the heritage and development of America.

No matter your preference, you will find a Historic Hotel in settings that range from rustic to refined and in locales as diverse as the mountain wilderness, manicured countrysides, the center of small towns and bustling metropolises. In addition to representing America’s heritage, and while maintaining a high standard of quality accommodations, these historic hotels often reflect interesting themes that add a further dimension to a stay.

A NEW LIFE

Of the 295 Historic Hotels, 92 of them are prime examples of adaptive reuse—that is, they started their life as something else before becoming a Historic Hotel. For example, Hotel El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico was once a former Carmelite convent. After being vacated by the nuns in 1903, the convent was left for decades to ruin. In the 1950’s it was a target for the wrecking ball until it was saved by Puerto Rican tourism, cultural officials, and millionaire Robert Woolworth, who purchased it in 1962 and converted it into a European-style luxury hotel restoring the intricate beauty and Spanish features of the original convent.

Ledges Hotel in Hawley, Pennsylvania was built in 1890 as the John S. O’Connor Glass Factory. The hotel today still illustrates the deep culture and heritage of the area’s manufacturing industry throughout the hotel. The name Ledges reflects the hotel’s location perched over Wallenpaupack Creek and offering stunning views of the creek’s cascades.

Since 1894 and continuing for more than a century, a Victorian red brick building adjacent to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Kendall Square housed the Cambridge Fire Department Engine 7 Station. But in 2002, the building was converted into a luxury boutique hotel; and today, after a pair of additions, The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse serves as the only historic hotel remaining in Cambridge.

The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams is comprised of six Victorian row houses, once homes to families of mill workers who lived and labored there for decades. The Inn, which is named for the long verandas that link the buildings, is a prime representation of the revitalization of this once forgotten mill town.

The Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia was once the Craddock Terry Shoe Company, the first shoe company south of the Mason-Dixon Line and the fifth largest in the world. And, yes, shoes do figure in this luxury boutique hotel’s amenities. A signature in-room shoebox breakfast is offered daily, as well as complimentary overnight shoe shine.

CELEBRATING FOOD & DRINK

From a popular late-night snack to an iconic cocktail, Historic Hotels have engendered some interesting food and drinks. In the 1920’s the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky drew large crowds each evening for its dinner dance. After dancing the night away, hungry revelers flocked to the restaurant. Understanding that a simple plate of ham and eggs was not glamorous enough for the nocturnal party-goers, Chef Fred Schmidt created a unique dish—an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce. Thus was born the Hot Brown—a “must-have” on any visit to Louisville. Today the Brown Hotel is an AAA Four Diamond hotel featuring classic English Renaissance architecture and an elegant Georgian-Revival style exterior—and was recently named one of the Best 500 Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure magazine.

The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois is the birthplace of the brownie. Bertha Palmer directed the creation of this dessert staple to be served at the Columbia Exposition World Fair in 1893. The original Palmer House did not survive nearly as long as Bertha’s baked specialty. Built by Potter Palmer as a wedding present for his bride, the structure was only 13 days old when it burned to the ground in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Palmer House is the longest continually operating hotel in the United States listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a Chicago landmark designated by the Chicago Landmarks Commission.

Looking for a drink that captured the authentic flavors of Puerto Rico? Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, the bartender at The Caribe Hilton in San Juan, experimented for three months before coming up with the recipe for the iconic Piña Colada. That was in 1954; but “Monchito” continued to serve his concoction—which was to become the island’s national drink in 1978—at the Caribe Hilton for another 35 years. The Caribe Hilton features a secluded beach, oceanfront swimming pools, nine restaurants, a full-service spa, and lush exotic gardens on a 17-acre private peninsula.

Ever wonder who created tomato juice? Well, in 1917 Chef Louis Perrin of the French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana ran out of oranges and smartly substituted tomatoes to make the morning drink. Established in 1845, French Lick Springs Hotel attracted guests from around the world to experience the “miracle waters” of nearby sulfur springs. Today, the hotel—one of two hotels at French Lick Resort—is famous for its Beaux-Arts architecture, ornate masonry, and peerless luxury exemplified by its grand lobby and its gold leafing.

MOVIE CLASSICS

In 1939 the stars were out in Atlanta, Georgia. The stars of the blockbuster movie Gone with the Wind that is. Many of the film’s stars, its producer David O. Selznick, director Victor Fleming, and author Margaret Mitchell attended the movie’s Premiere Grand Gala at the Georgian Terrace Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Many of the Gala attendees stayed at the Georgian Terrace. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers and white marble columns, The Georgian Terrace provides a signature brand of southern hospitality as one of Midtown Atlanta’s most elegant hotels.

International best-selling author Stephen King’s haunting novel, The Shining, has a connection to two Historic Hotels. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado was founded by the co-inventor of the famous Stanley Steamer automobile, F.O. Stanley, who was enamored with the beauty of the area and decided to build a hotel to showcase his famous autos. Stanley reconfigured a truck into the Stanley Mountain Wagon—the world’s first motorbus—to transport guests from the rail stations to the hotel. As a result, tourism boomed, the town grew, and Rocky Mountain National Park opened. However, the Stanley Hotel is probably best known for serving as the inspiration for King’s novel which then led to the famed movie. This white Georgian Colonial Revival hotel still poses a striking contrast to the rugged mountain terrain and remains one of the Rocky Mountains most recognizable hotels.

Timberline Lodge, situated at the 6,000-foot level on the south slope of Mt. Hood in Oregon, was used in the classic movie production of King’s novel as the exterior image of the fictional Overlook Hotel. With panoramic views of soaring pines and majestic mountain peaks, Timberline Lodge was built in 1937 as part of a WPA federal arts project pairing craftsman with apprentices and features native materials and Old World craftsmanship blended with modern amenities.

A favorite pastime of guests at the iconic Mackinac Island, Michigan summer resort, the Grand Hotel, is to sit in rocking chairs on the world’s longest porch enjoying the charm and elegance of the Victorian era. Each October some of these guests discuss their favorite movie, Somewhere in Time. This touching love story was filmed at the Grand Hotel, so members of the 1980 film’s fan club meet here each October. The movie is about a playwright who uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to meet the actress whose vintage portrait hangs in a grand hotel. Guests to Grand Hotel may well feel that they have gone back in time, as cars are not allowed on Mackinac Island and horse-drawn carriages are the preferred modes of travel.

HISTORIC MOMENTS

Some Historic Hotels were the sites of some very memorable events. Built on the site of Texas’ first brewery, just steps from the historic Alamo and the famous River Walk in San Antonio is the Menger Hotel. The hotel has hosted such notables as San Houston, Generals Lee and Grant, and Presidents McKinley, Taft, and Eisenhower. The hotel’s bar, a reproduction of the House of Lords Pub in London, is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his famous Rough Riders. The Menger Hotel is renowned for its beautiful architecture, a restored 19th-century wing with Victorian-style guestrooms, and rare antique furniture, all creating an unmistakable air of historic luxury.

Airlie in Warrington, Virginia was the location of where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started to pen his famous “I had a dream” speech. For more than five decades, global leaders and policy makers, including Dr. King, have visited Airlie for numerous significant conferences. Located just one hour from Washington, DC, Airlie is best known as a state-of-the-art conference center. Its sprawling 600 acres of lush Piedmont countryside make for a perfect place to retreat and relax—and for a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Airlie’s farm-to-table culinary experience featuring fresh herbs and vegetables from its four-acre organic garden.

DESTINATION HOTELS

Some of the Historic Hotels are more than just luxury accommodations—they are the destination itself. The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia offers a beautiful setting surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, with indoor and outdoor activities year round including championship golf courses and the largest hot springs in a Virginia hotel.

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is a 5,000-acre resort playground incorporating luxury accommodations and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to a wealth of activities including 54 holes of championship golf and a Forbes Five-Star spa, the Grand Dame of the Rockies boasts a unique art collection that captures the spirit of the West from a variety of American masters.

The Chumash Indians believed that a mystical valley located 35 miles south of Santa Barbara, California held healing powers, and so named this particular place Ojai (“The Moon”). It is here that one of California’s most revered destinations, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, offers an ideal—some would say magical—setting to enjoy many outdoor activities and adventures, as well as an outstanding array of treatments from its award-winning spa.

You can discover much more about the Historic Hotels from the Annual Directory, which provides short descriptions of all of the member hotels. Unique attributes of hotels, such as Presidential visits, notable art collections, historic tours, beautiful gardens, historic memorabilia, and even ghost hauntings, are designated with icons on the hotel’s page in the directory. The Annual Directory may be viewed as an e-book, downloaded as an app, or purchased at historichotels.org/directory.

---

Jeff and Stephanie Sylva are retired English and Social Studies high school teachers who have been freelance travel writers for over 28 years. They’ve been publishing in many national publications and who love to write about the great outdoors and, of course, travel.