20 Hotels That Will Transport You Back in Time

Take a step back through time with these hotels…
From coast to coast, North America continues to preserve, update and revitalize hotels with storied pasts. From the Industrial Era to the Prohibition, these hotels gathered many from near and far to come and enjoy remarkable stays, including gangsters, American Presidents, famous stars and more. Their architecture, from Beaux Arts to Spanish Colonial Revival, recalls an era long past, while their often glamorous interiors remind their guests that some things do indeed stand the test of time. Click through this slideshow to see a short list of some incredible historic hotels.

Lotte New York Palace
Located in Midtown Manhattan is a storied hotel that deserves its name. The Lotte New York Palace was once a collection of several brownstones built in the 1880s for the New York wealthy and glamorous to reside. Eventually they and the Helmsley Palace Hotel were renovated and combined into the gorgeous 5-star hotel of today. Guests can enjoy a one-hour guided tour through the Gilded Age with the hotel’s historian, experiencing the Villard Mansion, a thoroughly unique and preserved New York landmark. Guests can also find numerous original features of the hotel’s past, like the Gold Room bar and lounge area, which offers two stories of gilded splendor.

Hotel Californian
Step into the glory age of silent films and Californian dreams with the Hotel Californian. Located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, the hotel dates back to 1925 and is designed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style that still exudes charm to this day. Hit hard by an earthquake only a week after its opening and facing a decline in tourism after the end of WWII, it’s survived with resilience and grace to become an important part of the newly revitalized region of the city, while still retaining much of its splendor.

Woodstock Inn & Resort
The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s property has nearly always been a hotel or inn, dating back to 1793 as Richardson’s Tavern. Eventually, the tavern/hotel was purchased Laurance Rockefeller, who pioneered several hotels and resorts across the country as eco-friendly sanctuaries. While the current resort is relatively new, having been rebuilt, much of its history continues to be preserved within the resort. Today, it’s a luxury resort offering great golfing opportunities, event spaces for weddings, a center for skiing and much more.

Hotel Carmichael, an Autograph Collection Hotel
Located in Carmel, Indiana is an Autograph Collection Hotel offering a 1920s-style hotel in the Arts and Design District, located near some of the city’s best arts and culture attractions. From its black-and-white checkered lobby floor to its large curved windows and stunning event spaces, Hotel Carmichael offers plenty of historic flair. Its events even offer a historic touch, like the cabaret show at Feinstein’s, created in partnership with Emmy and Grammy award winner Michael Feinstein.

Hotel Icon, an Autograph Collection Hotel
Hotel Icon is another Autograph Collection Hotel offering a rich history. This Houston icon was once the Union National Bank of Houston and one of the country’s first concrete and steel skyscrapers in 1911, towering twelve stories high. Its original vault and neoclassical style still stand today. Hotel Icon offers modern comforts blended with a classy style that brings one back to the industrious age of the early twentieth century.

The Old No. 77
Located in New Orleans’ Port District just a short walk away from its French Quarter is a hotel in a building that dates back to 1854. The Old No. 77 was once a coffee warehouse and later a chandlery, trading in goods from across the world. Today, it’s an artistic hotel that combines the best of modern design while retaining much of the atmosphere of its past, including exposed brick and industrial-inspired decor.

The Ivy Hotel
The Ivy Hotel is a luxury Black-owned boutique hotel located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The original building was commissioned in 1889 and today boasts leaded windows, carved wainscoting, green marble, a three-story grand staircase and many more unique features that have been restored to their original glory. Today, it’s a luxurious hotel offering plenty of charm both old and new.

Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana
Dating back to the 18th century is a property unlike any other. Hacienda Xcanatun by Angsana, located in the Magic Town of Merida, Mexico, was once a prominent hacienda. Today, it’s a boutique luxury resort offering 18 beautifully appointed suites surrounded by four acres of tropical gardens. Its character and heritage still live on in the present day to create a truly stunning blend of old and new.

Hotel deLuxe
Located in Portland, Oregon is the Hotel deLuxe, has over a century of experience as a hotel. It began in 1912 as the Hotel Mallory, then a luxury icon in the city. Over time, its design continued to be updated to feature crystal chandeliers, a 1950s-style lounge and many small touches that combine to create a glamorous place to stay while in the city.

Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade
The Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade is an iconic homage to a bygone era. The Arcade Cleveland opened in 1890 as the very first indoor shopping center in America, modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Arcade has been revitalized after a remodel in 2001, and today shines as a beacon of the Industrial Era. The hotel itself offers more modern furnishings and accommodations, but its location definitely brings one through time.

The Spectator Hotel
Located within Charleston, South Carolina’s Historic District is the boutique Jazz Age hotel, The Spectator Hotel. The luxury property boasts much of the glamor of ages past, including personalized butler service, complimentary bicycles and a Prohibition-style bar and lounge. The entire hotel oozes charm and character, with a modernized design that harkens back to the past.

The Jefferson Hotel
The Jefferson Hotel, an iconic Richmond landmark, opened on Halloween in 1895 as a luxury hotel The Jefferson Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a charter member of Historic Hotels of America, this is a truly grand hotel, featuring a towering facade and a gorgeous lobby complete with thick columns and a large grand staircase. Thirteen presidents and a plethora of famous people have stayed at the hotel during their time in Richmond.

The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, an Autograph Collection Hotel
The hotel that made Virginia Beach famous, the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club is now an Autograph Collection Hotel and offers the beautifully restored charm and elegance that once made it a highlight for stars like Elizabeth Taylor and ten U.S. presidents since its opening in 1927. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts luxury amenities and offerings like gourmet dining, a private beach club and of course, the hotel’s classic style.

The Liberty Trust Hotel
The Liberty Trust Hotel is a newly opened boutique hotel in Roanoke, Virginia is located in the historic First National Bank headquarters, which was built at the beginning of the 1900s. The 7-story property was once a beacon of the city’s progress, and the interior was designed in the Beaux Arts style, while the entrance boasted a French Renaissance design. Today, the bank-turned-boutique hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark. It offers stylish rooms and is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

Harbor Court Hotel
Harbor Court Hotel, located in Harbor Court, San Francisco just steps from the stunning waterfront area, was once a residence for the Army and the Navy. Built in 1926 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the architectural gem boasts eight stories with beautiful decorative touches. Today, the boutique hotel offers modern rooms and a great location, with plenty of its historic charm in the main lobby and its exterior.

The Blackstone Chicago, an Autograph Collection Hotel
Since 1910, the glitzy and stylish The Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago, now an Autograph Collection Hotel, is a true icon. From the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts to enough presidents that the hotel’s nickname became “The Hotel of Presidents,” it’s welcomed quite a few famous individuals in American history. It’s also been the scene of several historic events, like being the site of Charles “Lucky” Luciano’s first Crime Convention in 1931, the place where President Kennedy first heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a secret Republican meeting to nominate Warren G. Harding for president in 1920 took place in one of the hotel’s suites, as well as once being the location of Al Capone’s barbershop! It still boasts a glamorous atmosphere and retains much of its pride in its history.

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile boasts a unique history with direct ties to the citie’s athletic history. Built in 1929, it boasts a junior-Olympic pool with ornate Spanish Majolica tiles, ornate columns and plenty of atmosphere that makes every swimmer feel like they’ve stepped back in time. While much of the hotel has been updated, including its rooms, the lobby and many of its event spaces still retain much of the grandeur of the Prohibition Era, and there’s even a secret spot in the King Arthur Court even hall that was once used to stash illegal liquor!

Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette
Built in 1927 in Peoria, Illinois, the newly renovated Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette has hosted several presidents and stars, and still continues to retain much of its original charm and style, with a few more modern flairs, like the Presidential Suite’s Pop Art-inspired portraits of the presidents who enjoyed the hotel in the past, like Reagan, Kennedy and Eisenhower. The hotel is also a member of the National Register of Historic Places.

Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
Hotel del Coronado, located on Coronado Island in California, is a stunning Victorian Era construction that continues to expand its more modern offerings while retaining the glories of its past. The iconic white beachfront hotel with its signature red roof opened in 1880 and offers a lavishly decorated and dark wood interior, a historic elevator, a grand ballroom and The Crown Room, a feat of architecture that has hosted the likes of Charles Lindbergh and England’s Prince of Wales in 1920. Today, travelers can truly step back in time as they wander through these rooms that have been beautifully preserved. It’s now part of the Curio Collection by Hilton.

The Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel, located on the motor-free Mackinac Island off the coast of Michigan in Lake Michigan is a scenic and storied hotel that offers stunning views of the surrounding island and a step back into the Industrial Era. Opened in 1887 as a summer retreat for wealthy individuals from the surrounding large cities, The Grand Hotel retains much of its historic architecture and preserves its history as a place where presidents, elites and stars have all enjoyed for 135 years. It’s a member of Historic Hotels of America and is a designated state landmark.