New hotels include one in the 'Guinness World Records,' one with perfectly round guest rooms and another was the inspiration for the book 'The Shining'
"The variety of American experiences is showcased with these 17 new members, said Thierry Roch, executive director of National Trust Historic Hotels of America. "These hotels represent eras ranging from the American Revolution and the Civil War to the building boom of the 1920s and the recent past with a mid-20th century hotel. This collection of new hotels provides travelers with even more historically and culturally rich locations to enhance their journey."
The new members offer travelers a diversity of locales from Ashland, Ore., to Washington, D.C., and Mackinac Island, Mich., to San Antonio. They feature hotels deeply rooted in history for nearly 300 years as well as pop culture. And, they showcase a wide range of architectural styles. Here's a sampling of interesting facts highlighting the history and architecture of the hotels as well as personalities who have walked through the doors.
Concord's Colonial Inn in Concord, Mass., was once the residence of author Henry David Thoreau while author Stephen King is said to have found inspiration for "The Shining" from The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo.
President Harry Truman played poker at The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.; the dance floor at the Providence Biltmore in Providence, R.I., was once turned into an aquarium complete with live fish for a performance by Esther Williams; and the original hotel on the current location of the Sheraton Read House Hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn., was occupied by Union troops and later served as a military hospital during the Civil War.
Vanderbilt Hall in Newport, R.I., was built and dedicated to Cornelius Vanderbilt by his son and originally served as the Newport's Men's Social Club; the Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa in Provincetown, Mass., was built as the residence of a prosperous Yankee sea captain; and the Island House Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., was once owned by a Great Lakes skipper who moved the building 300 feet inland for a better hilltop view.
The Crowne Plaza Quaker Square in Akron, Ohio, was originally 36 mills and grain silos which were the beginning of the Quaker Oats Company. As a result the hotel offers perfectly round rooms.
The Fairmount in San Antonio entered in the "Guinness World Records" book in 1985 when the 3.2 million pound hotel was moved intact to its current location.
The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Wash., opened in 1914 as the first hotel with air conditioning, a central vacuum system and folding ballroom wall. Built in 1925 Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was the first modern fire-proof building at the beach and boasted an automatic sprinkler system.
At the time of construction in 1928, the 23-story Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore was the largest hotel in the state of Maryland. Known today as the Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Ore., the nine-story hotel was the tallest building between Portland and San Francisco when it was built in 1925.
Built in 1954, the Fountainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach, Fla., with its famed crescent shape is an example of mid-20th century architecture. The Beaufort Inn in Beaufort, S.C., built in 1897, is a classic example of Victorian cottage architecture.
The Roberts Hotel in Muncie, Ind., is known locally as the "crown jewel of Muncie."
A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hotels of America is a marketing association. To qualify for membership, hotels must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance. Established in 1989 with 32 original hotel members, Historic Hotels of America recognizes and promotes these hotels for their historic integrity, architectural quality and outstanding preservation efforts made by owners and managers.
Representing nearly 38,000 rooms, Historic Hotels of America ranks as the 14th largest hotel consortia in the world, according to Hotels magazine (July 2004).
A directory of member hotels can be purchased by sending a $4.00 check or money order to National Trust Historic Hotels of America, P.O. Box 320, Washington, D.C. 20055-0320. Gift certificates are available through www.historichotels.org. Rooms at any of the member hotels can be reserved by visiting www.historichotels.org, calling 800-678-8946, or a travel planner (GDS code 'HE'). Reservations made through Historic Hotels of America support the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization of 200,000 members that provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. For more information, visit the National Trust's Web site at www.nationaltrust.org.