History buffs rejoice! Now you can stay in the same hotels and resorts where US Presidents worked, entertained and relaxed.
Historic Hotels of America, an official National Trust for Historic Preservation program, announced The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Where U.S. Presidents Made History List.
The 25 hotels presented here are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and eight are designated as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
“Historic Hotels of America members preserve the history that captures key moments in the lives of U.S. Presidents over the past 230 years,” said Lawrence P. Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide.
“The United States is a vast nation and presidents travel great distances in their lives—before, during, and after being in office—to connect with millions of voters and local leaders. As transportation used by U.S. Presidents has changed over the past 230 years from horse carriages, sailing and then steam ships, to trains and automobiles, to travel by air, U.S. Presidents have increased the frequency and destinations visited during these trips. Cultural travelers who want to immerse themselves in the history of these iconic destinations can do so with confidence by selecting Historic Hotels of America member hotels, inns, and resorts. A presidential seal of approval makes the stay that much better.”
These 25 hotels offer their contemporary guests many of the same experiences that American presidents enjoyed while staying at these hotels.
John Rutledge House Inn (1763) Charleston, South Carolina
The historic John Rutledge House Inn in Charleston, South Carolina, dates back to 1763, marking the era when tensions between England and its North American colonies were on the rise. Initially, the inn served as the private residence of John Rutledge, a key figure in guiding South Carolina through the American Revolution. Rutledge, though never a president, played a pivotal role in shaping the U.S. Constitution and had connections with prominent figures like George Washington and John Adams. The inn proudly hosted President Washington during his 1791 tour, making it one of the few surviving historic hotels to accommodate the president. In the 1920s, President William Taft visited, inspiring the creation of the famous She-Crab Soup by Chef William Deas. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the John Rutledge House Inn is a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America.
Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn (1766) Rhinebeck, New York
The Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn in Rhinebeck, New York, consists of two historic buildings with a rich history dating back to 1766. The Beekman Arms tavern played a significant role during the American Revolution, hosting figures like George Washington, Aaron Burr, and Alexander Hamilton. In 1888, President Benjamin Harrison celebrated his nomination for president at the Delamater Inn. The Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn, inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2006, have been witnesses to political and historical events for centuries.
The Omni Homestead Resort (1766) Hot Springs, Virginia
The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, renowned for its historic golf courses and Warm Springs Pools, has been a haven for U.S. Presidents for over two centuries. Presidents from George Washington to Ronald Reagan have sought rest and recreation at this historic resort. The resort’s natural mineral springs attracted the likes of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. President Franklin D. Roosevelt celebrated the Fourth of July here in 1931, and Dwight D. Eisenhower frequented the resort both before and after his presidency. Designated a National Historic Landmark, The Omni Homestead Resort is a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America.
Historic Inns of Annapolis (1772) Annapolis, Maryland
Comprising three historic 18th-century inns in the heart of Annapolis, Maryland, the Historic Inns of Annapolis witnessed significant historical events. The Maryland Inn hosted the ratification of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, attended by George Washington, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin. Today, the Maryland Inn’s tavern, named The Treaty of Paris, commemorates this historic moment. Contributing structures to the Colonial Annapolis Historic District, these inns were inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort (1806) Bedford, Pennsylvania
The Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania, served as President James Buchanan’s “Summer White House” and witnessed historical moments like the first transatlantic telegram sent to him by Queen Victoria. Buchanan ran his presidential campaign from the resort, and many other presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, and Ronald Reagan, visited. The resort preserves this rich history through guided history tours and displays. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the Omni Bedford Springs Resort joined Historic Hotels of America in 2008.
Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (1852) Mobile, Alabama
Established in 1852, the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa in Mobile, Alabama, has hosted illustrious guests, including Senator Henry Clay and President Woodrow Wilson. In 1913, Wilson attended a Presidential Breakfast at the hotel, marking a crucial moment in U.S. political history. The hotel, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, became a significant part of presidential history and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2009.
The Menger Hotel (1859) San Antonio, Texas
Opening in 1859, The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, earned the title of “the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River.” Presidents like Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower have graced its halls. The hotel’s connection with Theodore Roosevelt is particularly notable, as the Teddy Bear legend originated here. The Menger Hotel continues to honor this legacy through its Roosevelt Luxury Suite and an annual show featuring a Theodore Roosevelt Reprisor. A Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America, it has been a prominent landmark since 1989.
Palace Hotel (1875) San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s Palace Hotel, inaugurated in 1875 as the city’s first luxury hotel, boasts a remarkable history hosting 20 U.S. Presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy. The hotel played a crucial role in international affairs, hosting events related to the Treaty of Versailles and the founding of the United Nations. The Palace Hotel preserves this history through its Landmark 18 Museum and Gallery, showcasing photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2010, the Palace Hotel continues to share its rich heritage with guests.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (1876) Riverside, California
Dating back to 1876, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California, stands as a romantic, historic hotel with a significant presidential history. Ten U.S. Presidents, including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, have visited. The inn witnessed the romantic milestones of both Reagans and Nixons. Today, guests can reserve the Alhambra Suite, where the Reagans spent their honeymoon. Designated a National Historic Landmark, The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
Jekyll Island Club Resort (1887) Jekyll Island, Georgia
Nestled on a barrier island off the Georgia coast, the Jekyll Island Club Resort opened in 1887 as a retreat for the nation’s wealthiest families. President William McKinley’s 1899 visit became a pivotal political event, symbolizing the convergence of power and social prominence. 1915 President Woodrow Wilson participated in the nation’s first transcontinental phone call from the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Today, the resort showcases its presidential history through wall displays, plaques, and historical offerings. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994, it remains a distinctive destination.
The Strater Hotel (1887) Durango, Colorado
Centrally located in Durango, Colorado, The Strater Hotel is an iconic “Old West” hotel with ties to U.S. Presidents. Senator John F. Kennedy made campaign stops here in 1960, delivering a speech in the Pullman Room. President Gerald Ford, who owned local radio stations, frequented The Strater Hotel between 1979 and 1997. Ford’s stays, especially in Room 333, are commemorated, allowing visitors to experience this presidential connection. A Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America, The Strater Hotel reflects the charm of the Old West.
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection (1892) Denver, Colorado
For over 130 years, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection, has hosted presidents, celebrities, and royalty. Almost every U.S. President since Teddy Roosevelt has visited, including Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George W. Bush. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the most frequent visitor, turned The Brown Palace into the “Western White House.” Today, guests can reserve the Eisenhower Suite, preserving this special connection. Themed presidential suites, tours, and historical displays make The Brown Palace a living testament to its rich history. A Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America, it continues to be a prominent landmark.
Hotel Colorado (1893) Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Opening in 1893 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Hotel Colorado is a 19th-century replica of the Villa Medici in Rome. Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, visited the hotel during hunting trips. The Teddy Bear legend, created at the hotel during President Roosevelt’s 1905 visit, is commemorated through displays, a Roosevelt Suite, and themed offerings. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2007, Hotel Colorado invites guests to experience its presidential history in a mountain setting.
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton (1894) St. Louis, Missouri
The St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, originated in 1894 as a monumental train depot, representing a grand feat of American architecture. The expansive complex, a masterpiece in itself, featured the breathtaking Grand Hall and the Terminal Hotel, a boutique hostelry within. Notably, in the aftermath of the 1948 U.S. Presidential Election, a historic photograph captured President-Elect Harry S. Truman defiantly brandishing the infamous “Dewey Beats Truman” headline from the Chicago Tribune at the St. Louis Union Station. After New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey’s defeat, Truman’s win defied expectations and marked a pivotal moment in American political history. The hotel earned its status as a National Historic Landmark, accorded by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and became a distinguished member of Historic Hotels of America in 1991.
The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco (1907) San Francisco, California
The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, known as the “White House of the West Coast,” has been a hub of historic authenticity and modern luxury since 1907. This Californian Grande Dame holds a significant place in political history as the venue where the United Nations Charter was drafted and signed in 1945. Delegates from over forty nations, representing 80% of the world’s population, convened at the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco to formulate this landmark document. President Harry S. Truman, who signed the United Nations Charter on June 26, 1945, utilized the hotel’s penthouse dining room for a dinner hosting UN delegates. The hotel proudly displays its historical significance through a museum-quality history hall, showcasing images, newspaper clippings, awards, and memorabilia. A listed National Register of Historic Places establishment, the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco joined Historic Hotels of America in 2001.
The Hermitage Hotel (1910) Nashville, Tennessee
Opened in 1910 and named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson’s nearby property, The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, has been a witness to presidential visits over the years. President William Howard Taft marked the hotel’s inaugural year with a lavish banquet in its grand ballroom in 1911. Subsequently, Woodrow Wilson (1912), Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1934), Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia Nixon (1956), John F. Kennedy (1960), Lyndon B. Johnson (1964), Bill Clinton (1988), George W. Bush (2008), and Jimmy Carter (2019) have graced its opulent halls. First Ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama also found respite at The Hermitage Hotel in recent years. President Jimmy Carter visited in 2019 during his humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity, displaying personable interactions with the hotel staff. The Hermitage Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
Omni William Penn (1916) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Completed in 1916 to rival European hotels, Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh has been a destination for U.S. Presidents since President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit in 1917. Roosevelt’s reception in the hotel’s lobby marked the inaugural presidential visit. In 1919, President William Howard Taft wrote a letter from the same lobby, expressing pride in contributing to Theodore Roosevelt’s biography. The hotel’s renowned chocolate cookies and floral arrangements were sent to First Lady Mamie Eisenhower when President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited.
Omni William Penn hosted every seated president of the 20th century, including John F. Kennedy, who campaigned and stayed at the hotel. President Obama continued this tradition during the G20 Conference in Pittsburgh in 2009. The hotel shares its rich history through complimentary historic booklets available at the concierge desk, and it joined Historic Hotels of America in 2014.
The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado
A symbol of elegance, service, and exquisite cuisine, The Broadmoor, established in 1918, has welcomed at least nine U.S. Presidents to its premises. Its proximity to military installations and championship golf courses with breathtaking mountain views attracted presidents such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, who enjoyed both the resort and its golf courses.
Over the decades, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and even Vice President George H.W. Bush have graced The Broadmoor. The hotel honors its illustrious guests through the Wall of Fame, adorned with over 200 portraits of famous figures in the Broadmoor West Building. This Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America continues to captivate visitors with its rich history.
Hilton Fort Worth (1921) Fort Worth, Texas
Established in 1921, the Hilton Fort Worth, located near the Fort Worth Cultural District and Stockyards Rodeo, holds historical significance related to President John F. Kennedy. In November 1963, Kennedy, in the early stages of his reelection planning, stayed at the hotel along with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. The night before his tragic assassination, Kennedy addressed thousands in the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom during a local Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
The Hilton Fort Worth’s Suite 850, where the Kennedys spent the night, was adorned with world-class art, showcasing the city’s culture. A John F. Kennedy Tribute Memorial, erected in 2012, commemorates the president’s visit, complete with a bronze statue of Kennedy. The granite tribute wall features quotes by the president, offering guests a chance to reflect on this pivotal historical moment. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016, the hotel allows guests to reserve the Crystal Ballroom for special events and even stay in the Kennedy Suite.
The George Washington Hotel (1922) Washington, Pennsylvania
Architected by William Lee Stoddart in the Beaux-Arts style, The George Washington Hotel in Washington, Pennsylvania, was established in 1922. Named after George Washington, the hotel, while not visited by the first president, is located near the site of the historic Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. This region witnessed President George Washington leading a force to quell the insurrection, marking the only time a sitting U.S. President led a military expedition from the front.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy made a campaign stop in the town, delivering a speech on the courthouse steps. Afterward, he retired to a suite at The George Washington Hotel to watch the televised Army-Navy football game. The hotel’s Presidential Suite commemorates this historic visit, featuring the presidential seal at the entrance. It was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2023.
Historic Hotel Bethlehem (1922) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Nestled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s historic Moravian town, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem was built in 1922 under the direction of steel magnate Charles M. Schwab. The hotel’s first presidential guest was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959, who stayed during attempts to mediate the Bethlehem Steel Strike. President John F. Kennedy visited the hotel on October 28, 1960, just days before the just days before the election. Kennedy stayed in the hotel’s two-bedroom suite with Pierre Salinger, who was managing the campaign at the time and later became Kennedy’s press secretary.
The campaign stop at Historic Hotel Bethlehem began with a $2 per plate ham and eggs breakfast in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. There, Kennedy addressed 400 local leaders and discussed the $1.25 minimum wage, which was important to the steelworkers. The hotel named their two-bedroom suite the Presidential Suite in his honor. The hotel’s Tap Room has a photo gallery of distinguished former guests, with both a Democrat column and a Republican column of portraits, including Kennedy. Historic Hotel Bethlehem was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2002.
Hilton Chicago (1927) Chicago, Illinois
Perched on the edge of Grant Park, Hilton Chicago stands tall as a historic landmark, its legacy dating back to its inauguration in 1927 as the Stevens Hotel. Notably, this iconic establishment has welcomed every U.S. President through its doors, beginning with Vice President Charles G. Dawes, the inaugural registered guest. Garnering the moniker of “The Midwest White House,” the hotel has hosted a distinguished list of dignitaries and politicians over the years. From Truman to Biden, a parade of Presidents has graced the halls, with Don Maver, a banquet waiter, serving each from Truman to Clinton during his remarkable 50-year tenure. The VIP passage, adorned with photos of discreet guests, tells the century-long tale of Hilton Chicago’s political prominence. Acquired by Conrad Hilton in the 1940s, the hotel witnessed historic moments, including Reagan’s legislation signing in the Grand Ballroom and Obama’s press conferences.
Omni Shoreham Hotel (1930) Washington, DC
Nestled in the heart of Washington, DC, the Omni Shoreham Hotel, designed by architect Joseph Abel in 1930, stands as a witness to 20th-century political history. Beyond the bustling downtown, this haven near Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo has been a preferred rendezvous for dignitaries and world leaders. Room D406 echoes the late-night poker games hosted by President Truman, while the hotel itself became a home to Senators and Congressmen. FDR initiated the tradition of inaugural balls at the hotel, and the famed Blue Room, a hotspot for the city’s elite, possibly witnessed JFK’s first date with Jacqueline Bouvier. Today, historical displays throughout the hotel narrate its rich history, captivating guests with tales of influential figures who have graced its halls. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2014, the Omni Shoreham Hotel remains a living testament to a bygone era.
The Capital Hilton (1943) Washington, DC
A mere three blocks from the White House on 16th Street, The Capital Hilton has stood as a bastion of political events since its establishment in 1943. Hosting every U.S. President, it holds a trove of presidential anecdotes chronicled in Judy Colbert’s book, “Zeon Tubes & Politics.” Rushed to completion for FDR’s annual Birthday Ball in 1943, the hotel’s grand ballroom has been witness to numerous presidential events, including inaugural balls and Election Night headquarters for major political parties. The Trader Vic’s restaurant, a favorite of President Nixon, once graced the hotel, and visitors can relive history in the Harry S. Truman Suite, complete with Truman’s favorite meal, meatloaf. Inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2014, The Capital Hilton stands as a living testament to the intertwined history of the presidency and this storied hotel.
Fairmont Century Plaza (1961) Los Angeles, California
In the heart of Los Angeles, California, the Fairmont Century Plaza stands on the former backlot of 20th Century Fox Studios, embodying a history rich in cultural significance. Once dubbed “The Hotel of the Future,” it has hosted events ranging from the Emmys to a state dinner hosted by President Richard Nixon. The highlight of its history is the “Dinner of the Century” in 1969, where President Nixon and First Lady Patricia Nixon hosted a star-studded gala honoring the safe return of the Apollo 11 astronauts. The hotel’s storied ballroom has witnessed countless iconic moments, making it a cultural epicenter. Linked closely with President Ronald Reagan, who frequently used the hotel as the “Western White House,” the Fairmont Century Plaza was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2022, marking its enduring legacy as a witness to history.
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