Historic Hotels of America®, an official program of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation, is pleased to announce its 2024
Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Literary Hotels List. This
selection of 25 storied and illustrious destinations highlights the
authenticity and significance of historic hotels in American
history and culture. They were selected for their connections to
influential writers and literary movements, or for how they use
literature and literary history to enhance the guest experience.
Martin Luther King Jr. composed I Have a Dream—one of the 20th
century’s most influential speeches—at a hotel in Washington, D.C.,
just before he delivered it to massive crowds. In the Roaring
Twenties, a historic hotel in New York City hosted the city’s most
“vicious” literary club: The Algonquin Roundtable. Farther south,
Margaret Mitchell found a serene North Carolina inn where she could
work on Gone with the Wind, and William Faulkner penned The Sound
and the Fury at the same New Orleans hotel where he spent his
honeymoon. To the west, historic hotels inspired John Prine, Thomas
Savage, Anne Rice, Louis L’Amour, Willa Cather, and Oscar Wilde—to
name a few. Four members of Historic Hotels of America are listed
on the Literary Landmarks™ Register by the Friends of Libraries
U.S.A. Other historic hotels were selected because they offer
guestrooms with substantial libraries or fascinating library
architecture. Many of the historic hotels on this list offer
history tours for visitors to learn more about the hotel’s history,
including the hotel’s literary past and cultural connections.
Others have curated specialty guestrooms and suites dedicated to
the lives and art of writers. The historic hotels on this list all
share a commitment to preserving stories from throughout the ages
and the places where history was made. Visitors are invited to
discover and explore these places, all open to the public.
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Omni Parker House (1855) Boston,
Massachusetts. Photo: Historic Hotels of America and Omni Parker
House.
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Concord’s Colonial Inn (1716) Concord, Massachusetts
Concord's Colonial Inn in Concord, Massachusetts, is a charming
Colonial-style hotel located within the Concord Monument
Square–Lexington Road Historic District. It was once a series of
three distinct buildings, one of which was the family home of
American philosopher and author, Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau’s
grandfather, John Thoreau, purchased the house in 1799 from the
White family, who had built it in 1716. When John Thoreau Sr. died,
his widow and two daughters began operating their home as a
boarding house. In 1835, John Thoreau Jr. moved his own family,
including his sisters, back into the house for the next two years
while Henry David, his son, attended Harvard College. Henry David
Thoreau stayed at the house while he was in and out of Harvard or
teaching. The family sold the inn by the end of the decade. Thoreau
went on to write enduring popular works like the essay “Resistance
to Civil Government” (1849; also known as “Civil Disobedience”) and
personal memoir Walden (1854). The Thoreau House is the most
historic of the three buildings that became Concord's Colonial Inn,
which opened to the public as an inn in 1889. For visitors
interested in learning more about Henry David Thoreau, the historic
hotel is 1.5 miles from the Walden Pond State Reservation and cabin
site where the writer lived between July 4, 1845 and September 6,
1847, and just 0.5 miles from the Concord Museum. Concord’s
Colonial Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
2005.
The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC (1818)
Washington, D.C.
The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC is a Grande Dame in
the U.S. capital known for hosting heads of state, due to its
proximity to the White House, but the storied hotel has welcomed
writers, poets, and intellectuals for over two hundred years. From
Nathaniel Hawthorne to Mark Twain, this historic hotel has served
as a creative sanctuary that continues to inspire. Several notable
works with immense cultural and political significance have been
composed at The Willard InterContinental, including “Battle Hymn of
the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe and I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Howe, a writer and abolitionist, was inspired to
write the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” during a trip to the
capital in 1861. Moved by the music she had heard during a review
of the troops, Howe returned to her guestroom at The Willard
InterContinental that night and began to write. By morning, she had
written the verses for a new song that served as the spiritual ode
to the preservation of the Union. The song lyrics first appeared on
the front page of The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It was an
overnight sensation, becoming one of the most frequently sung tunes
by Northern soldiers during the American Civil War. Just over a
hundred years later, in August 1963, Dr. King composed his I Have a
Dream speech in the hotel’s lobby on the eve of the March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The Willard InterContinental is
within walking distance of the Lincoln Memorial, and Dr. King
stayed at the hotel while he was in the city for the historic
event. The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC was inducted
into Historic Hotels of America in 2010.
Omni Parker House (1855) Boston, Massachusetts
In 1877, while visiting Boston, Mark Twain told a reporter that
he was staying “pretty near Heaven—not theologically, of course,
but by the hotel standard.” Twain was a guest at the Omni Parker
House, which opened in 1855 at the dawn of a golden age of American
literature. Within weeks of its opening, the hotel attracted many
of the greatest literary luminaries of the era, including Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Russell Lowell,
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., and Nathaniel Hawthorne. All of these
men were members of the illustrious Saturday Club, which met at the
Omni Parker House on the last Saturday of every month. Saturday
Club members are commemorated in displays throughout the hotel and
in meeting rooms that guests can reserve today. Though not in the
Saturday Club, female writers also frequented the hotel; Louisa May
Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe both have meeting rooms named
after them. When Charles Dickens visited Boston during his
1867-1868 book tour, he made the Omni Parker House his home for
five months. Vestiges of that tour are displayed today, including
the original 8-feet-tall wooden door to Dickens’s suite, as well as
the mirror that he used to practice dramatic readings of A
Christmas Carol (1843), which was first performed in the United
States at the Omni Parker House. Visitors can learn more about the
hotel’s literary past by joining periodic talks and tours by Susan
Wilson, historian and author of Heaven, by Hotel Standards: The
History of the Omni Parker House (2014). The Omni Parker House was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2006.
The Sayre Mansion (1858) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was built in 1858
in the Gothic Revival style for Robert Heysham Sayre, chief
engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Sayre was an avid book
lover who amassed a collection of 15,000 books. In 1898, he
commissioned an addition to the mansion to house his vast
collection. The three-story library boasted extravagant
architectural features, and was one of the most impressive private
libraries in the country at the time. Mr. Sayre proudly collected
some of the rarest volumes and encouraged people to visit and
borrow titles. He even employed a live-in librarian to organize and
oversee the process. Two historic photographs on display in the
hotel lobby feature the library and show Mr. Sayre and the
librarian posing with the collection. Sections of the library are
visible today in guestrooms 11, 20, and 21. In Room 11, guests can
experience the soaring, 25-feet-high cathedral-style, gold-toned
plaster ceiling that adorned Sayre’s office in his library. Guests
may notice a notch in the dome, which secured the spiral staircase
leading to the catwalks that accessed the higher bookshelves. In
addition to the library’s original vaulted ceiling and chandelier,
the two-room suite offers two floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Sayre’s
library included a balcony that overlooked the sprawling
bookshelves. The gold coffered ceilings in The Sayre Mansion’s
Rooms 20 and 21 once served as the base of the balcony. Visitors
may book a stay in a particular guestroom to appreciate the
architectural features preserved from the original library. At
certain times of the year, ghost tours are offered that take
visitors into the home’s unique spaces. The Sayre Mansion was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2013.
The Strater Hotel (1887) Durango, Colorado
Western and science fiction writer Louis L’Amour made The
Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado, his family’s retreat in the
late 1960s and 1970s, and wrote many of his Sackett family novels
there. Every August during that period, the family checked in to
The Strater and L’Amour set up his writing desk in Room 222, which
is now dedicated to him. L’Amour and his family would stay for a
month at a time. Louis enjoyed this guestroom, as he could write on
his typewriter while the ragtime piano below him played into the
night, and as his children Beau and Angelique slept peacefully in
the room next door. Room 222 is directly above the hotel’s famous
Diamond Belle Saloon, where live ragtime music entertains guests.
L’Amour once said that the music inspired his characters’
development. The drop-leaf table where he worked is still in Room
222. While the L’Amour family was staying at The Strater Hotel, the
author divided his time between writing and hiking in the La Plata
or San Juan Mountains. Former owner Rod Barker was a bellman at The
Strater Hotel during this era. He recalls the annual arrival of the
L’Amour family: “Louis was very easy to know and to like. He seemed
to honestly enjoy the hotel staff and was friendly to all of us. We
looked forward to seeing the family each day for breakfast in the
dining room. I also distinctly remember moving the trunk full of
books and references that Louis brought with him in the family
station wagon.” The Strater Hotel was inducted as a Charter Member
of Historic Hotels of America in 1989, and dates to 1887.
The Menger Hotel (1859) San Antonio, Texas
In 1882, 27-year-old Anglo-Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde
traveled throughout the United States and Canada on a lecture tour
titled, "The Decorative Arts." Comedic opera writers Gilbert and
Sullivan wanted to introduce American audiences to the philosophy
of Aestheticism, which Wilde could represent perfectly through his
flamboyant clothing and poetic speech, because they needed a
receptive audience for their new show Patience, about an
"aesthete." Wilde, whose best-known works were still ahead of him,
wanted fame. Over the course of 11 months, Wilde gave over 140
lectures on beauty and art. Beginning in New York City in January
1882 and ending there nearly a year later, Wilde stopped in cities
and towns on a circuit across North America. When he arrived in San
Antonio, Texas, on June 21, Wilde checked into The Menger
Hotel—today a member of Historic Hotels of America—and spoke that
night at the Turner Opera Hall. San Antonio’s The Evening Light
newspaper reported the day after his lecture that, "He was attired
in a black velvet suit, ancient in design and picturesque in
appearance; the coat and vest being cut a la courtier" and that he
had a "nervous temperament." This historic hotel was added to the
Literary Landmarks™ Register by the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. in
2000 for its part in hosting Wilde as well as William Sydney Porter
(O. Henry), Sidney Lanier, and Theodore Roosevelt. The Menger Hotel
was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America in
1989, and dates to 1859.
Along with The Menger Hotel, two other Historic Hotels of
America members—Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
(1852) in Mobile, Alabama, and the Palace Hotel (1875) in San
Francisco—hosted Wilde in 1882. Most of the inns and hotels where
Oscar Wilde stayed during his 1882 tour have been demolished or
repurposed.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (1876) Riverside,
California
To understand how horror and religious fiction author Anne Rice
was inspired by The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside,
California, one must first understand the drama and artistry of the
historic hotel’s architecture. Once a small boarding house, the lot
was purchased in 1880 by Frank Augustus Miller, who set out on a
six-decades-long project to build his beautiful hotel. The
overarching architectural style is Spanish Colonial Revival, but
there are soaring towers, flying buttresses, and ornate arcades
that draw from Spanish Gothic, Moorish Revival, Renaissance
Revival, and Mediterranean Revival styles of architecture. Miller
traveled the world searching for art, textiles, rare antiques, and
building materials to create his dream hotel. Christian iconography
and antiques are found throughout the hotel. For example, wood
paneling was imported from a Belgian convent. In the 2009 novel
Angel Time, Rice uses the hotel as a refuge for her protagonist.
Due to his circumstances, he is unable to travel to the European
cities that he loves—Prague, Siena, and Vienna—but the main
character reflects that the hotel gives him a similar atmosphere
and fulfills his need to be among Medieval art and architecture.
Rice stayed at the hotel several times while writing the book and
its sequel, Of Love and Evil. She stayed in the hotel’s Amistad
Suite, which is featured in the story. To honor Anne Rice's legacy
at the hotel, the suite is dedicated to her and another writer,
Anne Cameron. Visitors can book the guestroom, which is under a
hand-painted dome ceiling and features a large concrete fireplace.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 1996 and was designated a National Historic Landmark
by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
Hotel Monteleone (1886) New Orleans, Louisiana
Throughout its history, Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street in New
Orleans has been a popular haunt for many prominent Southern
authors and playwrights. William Faulkner honeymooned at the hotel
with his wife, Estelle, in 1929. It was during this trip to the
Hotel Monteleone that Faulkner penned his renowned novel, The Sound
and the Fury (1929). Tennessee Williams wrote The Rose Tattoo
(1951) at the Hotel Monteleone, and Ernest Hemingway used various
locations throughout the hotel as the setting for his short story,
“Night Before Battle.” Hotel Monteleone also appeared in other
literary works, including Erle Stanley Gardner’s Owls Don’t Blink
(1942) and Eudora Welty’s A Curtain of Green (1941). But some
writers merely stopped by just to enjoy themselves. Truman Capote
was a regular at the Carousel Bar, where he jokingly told its other
patrons that he had been born inside the establishment. In
recognition of the hotel’s literary history, the Friends of
Libraries U.S.A. added Hotel Monteleone to the Literary Landmarks™
Register in 1999. Family-owned and operated since 1886, Hotel
Monteleone was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
1999.
Hotel del Coronado (1888) San Diego, California
Children’s fantasy author L. Frank Baum first checked in at
Hotel del Coronado in 1903, and he was a regular guest for years to
come. Located on the coast in sunny Southern California’s village
of Coronado, Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888 as a luxury
oceanfront resort. It is recognizable around the world for its
Queen Anne-style architecture, including its gorgeous red cupolas
and towers that grace its spectacular rooftop. During Baum’s years
wintering at “The Del,” he stayed in several different guestrooms
and wrote three books in his famous Oz series while staying there.
In 2024, guestrooms in the Victorian building are undergoing a
restoration, and the hotel anticipates that at least one of the
guestrooms where Baum stayed will be labeled and available for
guests to book in 2025. To share this history with guests, the gift
shop at Hotel del Coronado sells The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900),
Baum’s most famous work, and includes tales of Baum’s time at the
hotel in its guided tours. One of the stories kept alive by the
hotel is about a 1905 meeting between Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich
and L. Frank Baum. It was dinnertime, and Admiral Goodrich was
riding the elevator to the dining room with his family when Baum
joined them and the elevator operator in the car. Baum’s jacket
collar was lopsided, with one side turned up and the other turned
down. “Allow me,” said the Admiral, as he kindly fixed Baum’s
collar. Later that night, Baum boarded the elevator again to return
to his guestroom. The elevator operator, a very young man, said to
Baum, “Do you know who the gentleman is who turned down your coat
collar? Why that was Admiral Caspar Goodrich, U.S. Navy.” Baum
replied, “And do you suppose Admiral Goodrich knows whose coat
collar it was that he turned down?” Hotel del Coronado was inducted
into Historic Hotels of America in 2007, and it was designated as a
National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the
Interior.
Green Park Inn (1891) Blowing Rock, North Carolina
The historic Green Park Inn was established in 1891 to serve
summertime visitors to Blowing Rock, North Carolina—a destination
in the Blue Ridge Mountains known for its serene surroundings.
Built from hearty American Chestnut and Heart Pine, the inn is a
beautiful example of Queen Anne-style architecture. Attracted to
the peace and quiet of this charming retreat, author Margaret
Mitchell stayed at the Green Park Inn between 1926 and 1929 to work
on her famous novel, Gone with the Wind (1936). She had started the
novel in Atlanta, but traveled to the inn to continue working on
it. Mitchell stayed in Room 233 at the Green Park Inn. Over a
decade later, in 1937, Mitchell returned to Blowing Rock and
resided at the Green Park Inn while serving as a guest lecturer at
the Blowing Rock School of English. It was the same year that she
received the Pulitzer Prize for Gone with the Wind. Green Park Inn
was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2012.
The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection
(1901) New York, New York
Since its beginnings in 1901, The Algonquin Hotel Times Square,
Autograph Collection, has hosted New York City’s artists and
literati: writers, actors, producers, playwrights, critics,
tastemakers, and publishers. Writers like H. L. Mencken, Maya
Angelou, and Gertrude Stein called the hotel home when visiting New
York, and the hotel is best known for hosting The Algonquin Round
Table. In 1919, literary juggernauts including Dorothy Parker,
Franklin P. Adams, Robert Benchley, Harold Ross, Robert E.
Sherwood, and Alexander Woollcott met for lunch in the hotel’s Oak
Room and inaugurated what they called the “Vicious Circle,” better
known as The Algonquin Round Table. It was rumored to have been so
much fun that they met the next day and kept meeting regularly for
a decade to let off steam with similar minds while discussing
writing projects, art, politics, and gossip. The New Yorker
magazine was founded by Harold Ross in 1925 and influenced by the
Round Table. By then, the Algonquin Hotel and the Round Table were
synonymous. This historic hotel was added to the Literary
Landmarks™ Register by the Friends of Libraries Association U.S.A.
in 1996. Today, this literary history remains ingrained in the
fabric of the hotel. The Round Table restaurant, named fondly after
the famed group of writers, still inspires with a tasteful and
modern take on American cuisine, serving breakfast, lunch, and
dinner to hotel guests and locals alike. It is also an enduring
tradition that the hotel lobby keeps a pet cat, named either
Matilda or Hamlet—appropriate names for a literary hotel. Since
2017, Hamlet VIII has greeted guests from his cat tree in the
lobby. The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection, was
inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2023.
El Tovar Hotel (1905) Grand Canyon National Park,
Arizona
El Tovar Hotel and its location on the edge of the Grand Canyon
deeply influenced the writings of Zane Grey, one of America's most
prolific and popular early-20th century Western authors. Grey
visited El Tovar Hotel in 1907, just two years after it was
constructed by the Fred Harvey Company, and he was captivated by
the vastness of the Grand Canyon, with its towering cliffs and deep
gorges. The vista stirred his imagination and inspired him to
explore themes of adventure, courage, and the untamed wilderness in
novels like The Vanishing American (1925), The Heritage of the
Desert (1910), and The Call of the Canyon (1924). By incorporating
his impressions of the Grand Canyon into his stories, Grey hoped to
transport readers to the dramatic landscapes of the American West,
and his books helped to popularize the Grand Canyon as a symbol of
the West. Today, El Tovar Hotel is considered the premier lodging
facility at Grand Canyon National Park. Constructed of native stone
and Oregon pine, this historic hotel was built as a destination
resort and provides an air of venerable dignity. Located just steps
from the rim of the canyon, it is one of only a handful of Harvey
House facilities still in operation today. To celebrate this famous
literary guest, El Tovar Hotel offers guests the chance to stay in
the Zane Grey Suite, complete with an attached sitting area and
balcony, and appointed with unique wall art reminiscent of the
author’s works. El Tovar Hotel is part of Grand Canyon National
Park, and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2012.
The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco (1907) San Francisco,
California
Stay in a room with a view and a library at The Fairmont Hotel
San Francisco, where guests can book the 6,000 sq ft Penthouse
Suite that spans the entire eighth floor of the hotel, and has
hosted kings, rock stars and presidents. The suite’s library spans
two stories, complete with a domed ceiling decorated with an
original gold-leaf celestial map. There is even a secret passage
behind one of the bookcases, through which Marilyn Monroe is
rumored to have discreetly passed through after meeting with
President John F. Kennedy. This unique suite spotlights the city’s
celebrated skyline, famous bay, and signature landmarks from large
windows. Custom furnishings, hand-carved wood, and original artwork
by famous artists like David Hockney accent the regal golds,
purples, and blues, setting the tone of the suite’s 1920s eclectic
opulence. The library’s holdings are from the private literary
collection of a former owner of the hotel. Benjamin Swig lived in
the Penthouse Suite with his family until his death in 1980. The
following year, the residence was turned into an exclusive suite
for guests. Most of the books in the Penthouse library were curated
and donated by the Swig Family. Guests can book the Penthouse
Suite, grab a book, and escape the mundane from the suite’s private
balcony, with sweeping views of the city and the bay. The Fairmont
Hotel San Francisco was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
2001.
The Plaza (1907) New York, New York
The Plaza in New York City has a rich history of hosting
numerous authors and writers throughout the years. Many literary
figures have stayed at The Plaza or frequented its renowned Oak
Room and Palm Court, drawing inspiration from its luxurious
surroundings and iconic ambiance. Notably, the hotel was a favorite
haunt of authors F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, who were
known for their extravagant lifestyle and often stayed at The Plaza
during their time in New York City. Truman Capote, author of
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1966), was also a
frequent guest at The Plaza in the 1960s, and he often held
gatherings and parties in his suite, attracting other literary
luminaries of the time. Famously, he hosted a legendary birthday
bash—a masquerade ball known as the Black and White Ball—for The
Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham in the Grand Ballroom in
November 1966. Another author, Kay Thompson, resided at The Plaza
in the 1950s and was inspired by her time there to create the
mischievous Eloise character, the star of the Eloise children’s
books. Published in 1955, the first book in the series describes
Eloise’s life living with her nanny in one of the hotel’s penthouse
suites. The series follows her misadventures and escapades in the
luxury hotel. Today, The Plaza offers guests the chance to book The
Eloise Suite, designed by Betsey Johnson. Located on the 18th
floor, the suite is resplendently decorated according to the
character’s taste, and is equipped with a DVD player and Eloise
DVDs, books from the series, a tea set and Eloise and Weenie dolls,
and Eloise robes and towels. Guests also have the option to book an
adjoining "grown-up" Edwardian Suite. This historic hotel was added
to the Literary Landmarks™ Register by the Friends of Libraries
U.S.A. in 1998. The Plaza opened in 1907 and was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 1991.
Hotel Boulderado (1909) Boulder, Colorado
The Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado, has been a magnet for
creative talent for over a century, perhaps drawn to its dramatic
mountain views and sunsets, the nostalgia of the lobby, or the
importance of music in the small Western city that attracts
musicians and songwriters. One of those visiting artists was folk
singer/songwriter John Prine, who loved Hotel Boulderado and wrote
songs influenced by his time in Boulder. In “Come Back to Us
Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard” on his album Common Sense
(1975), Prine refers to the hotel:
Can’t you picture her next Thursday?
Can’t you picture her at all?
In the Hotel Boulderado
At the dark end of the hall
This album was released in 1975, before the hotel’s North Wing
was built, and mentions the dark end of the hall, which suggests
that he stayed in the historic wing. Guests can wander down the
hotel’s long hallways lined with historic artifacts and curtained
windows. Prine would return to stay at the hotel regularly for over
40 years until his death. Prine, who once told The Guardian in 2016
that he considered lyrics a unique form of literature, was
posthumously named Honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois in 2020. In
2024, Hotel Boulderado introduced a new music history tour that
includes information about John Prine’s connection to the hotel.
The hotel also partners with the University of Colorado and the
Colorado Shakespeare Festival to ensure lodging for their visiting
artists. Hotel Boulderado opened in 1909 and was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
The Otesaga Hotel (1909) Cooperstown, New York
The Otesaga Hotel has a prime location in Cooperstown, New York,
on the shores of Otsego Lake. Cooperstown is named for the family
of James Fenimore Cooper, author of one of the first critically
acclaimed American novels, The Last of the Mohicans (1826). The New
York village where Cooper grew up in the 1790s inspired him to
write “The Leatherstocking Tales,” a series of five
novels—including Mohicans—about Natty Bumppo, an 18th-century
European-American frontiersman often nicknamed “Leatherstocking” or
“Hawkeye.” The world explored by the protagonist in the novels was
drawn directly from Cooper’s own memories of Cooperstown. And just
as Cooper drew inspiration from his hometown, Cooperstown has been
inspired by its favorite author, as evidenced by the names of sites
all around the village and most especially at The Otesaga Hotel.
The dining room where The Otesaga’s famed breakfast is served is
called Glimmerglass, and a smaller private dining room next door is
called Fenimore. The hotel's Hawkeye Bar & Grill, Hawkeye Spa,
and Natty Bumppo meeting room all refer to the protagonist by name,
and the resort’s Leatherstocking Golf Course is located between the
hotel and the neighboring Fenimore Art Museum. The Otesaga offers a
daily history tour, which guides visitors through the connections
between the author and the region. The hotel can also recommend
other sites around town, such as the Fenimore Art Museum, where
visitors can learn even more. The Otesaga Hotel opened in 1909 and
was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994.
The Andrus Hotel (1917) Dillon, Montana
For more than a century, The Andrus Hotel has offered a charming
retreat for guests and locals alike, with its central location in
the Old Town neighborhood of Dillon, Montana. The town and the
hotel both influenced the writings of Western author Thomas Savage,
who moved to Dillon first as a teenager to attend high school in
the early 1930s, and then returned in 1942 with his family. His
experiences in Dillon and the surrounding area provided him with a
deep understanding of the landscape, the people, and the culture of
the American West, an understanding that is reflected in his
novels. Professor Dr. O. Alan Weltzien, author of Savage West: The
Life and Fiction of Thomas Savage (2020), wrote of Savage: “Savage
possessed a photographic memory and he kept [reincorporating] The
Andrus as a way to satirize local high society: the movers and
shakers in the town several generations ago. He set scenes in the
Hotel’s big lobby, dining room, and even an upstairs corner room
and plainer room (along its west side) facing an alley. Of these
locations, he most often used the lobby, an informal town center,
to characterize old ranchers, traveling salesmen, and others.”
Dillon and its surroundings served as the backdrop for several of
Savage’s novels, including The Power of the Dog (1967), The Sheep
Queen (1977), and The Corner of Rife and Pacific (1988). Readers
can delve into the lives and landscapes of The Andrus Hotel through
Savage’s enduring novels like The Power of the Dog, which was
adapted into an award-winning movie in 2021 directed by Jane
Campion. The Andrus Hotel opened in 1917 and was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America in 2021.
The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado
Truman Capote and Harper Lee—two of the most famous American
authors of the 20th century—visited The Broadmoor in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, together in 1963. The pair were childhood
friends who met when their families were neighbors in Monroeville,
Alabama, and bonded over their shared love of literature. In the
early 1960s, shortly after Harper Lee had submitted her final
manuscript for To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), she and Capote teamed
up to research a grim news item that had intrigued Capote. The
murder of a family in Holcomb, Kansas, became the inspiration for a
series of articles by Capote and finally his nonfiction novel, In
Cold Blood (1966). Together, they interviewed people who knew the
family over the course of several years. The friends stayed at The
Broadmoor at least once when they were in the region and were
photographed there together in 1963. (The drive between Holcomb and
The Broadmoor is about 4.5 hours.) In Cold Blood was published in
1966 and it instantly became a bestseller, a gruesome work of
nonfiction famous for being one of the first popular works to blur
the lines between journalism and literature. According to the
resort’s historian, Truman Capote loved the hotel and visited on
several occasions throughout his life. During the 1967 filming of
the movie adaptation of In Cold Blood, Capote hosted dinners for
his friends in the award-winning Penrose Room. As he left the
dining room each night, he would say to the Maître d: “I want to
thank you so much for being so kind to my dinner guests.” The
Broadmoor was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of
America in 1989, and dates back to 1918.
La Fonda (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico
La Fonda’s rich literary heritage is exemplified by its
association with renowned authors and the profound literary works
that have been crafted within its walls. Notably, the esteemed
American author Willa Cather was inspired to write, and eventually
penned her seminal novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927),
during her stay at this historic hotel in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
This timeless work, set in the vast landscapes of the New Mexico
Territory, captures the essence of the region's cultural and
historical complexities, reflecting the unique atmosphere and
inspiration found at La Fonda. In recent years, Santa Fe historian
and author Garrett Peck has collected evidence of Cather’s time at
La Fonda for his forthcoming book about the author (The Bright
Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop) and her time
at La Fonda. She stayed there with her partner, Edith Lewis, in the
summer of 1925, and for a full month in June 1926. In his upcoming
book, Peck cites a 1931 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle
as clear evidence that La Fonda was where the book was born. Cather
explained to the reporter that the idea came to her in the night
while she was staying at the hotel in 1925: “Then, before morning,
the story was in my mind. The way of it was on the white wall of
that hotel room in Santa Fe, as if it were all in order and color
there, projected by a sort of magic lantern.” The couple returned
the following year and Cather, with Lewis’s help, worked furiously
on the novel from rooms at the hotel. Death Comes for the
Archbishop was published the following year and is considered by
critics to be one of the 20th century’s greatest novels. La Fonda
opened in 1922 and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in
1991.
The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection (1925)
Washington, D.C.
The night before his first inauguration as the 32nd President of
the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt and his party were guests
at The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection in Washington, D.C.
Steeped in presidential history, this historic hotel is situated on
Connecticut Avenue, just a few blocks away from the White House.
From Suites 776 and 775, Roosevelt perfected his historic First
Inaugural Address, which sought to allay the fears many Americans
felt as they experienced the Great Depression. The speech—at least
portions of it—was written at the hotel. Roosevelt’s arrival in the
capital in March 1932 was a momentous occasion during a difficult
era, and Roosevelt’s inaugural speech was eagerly anticipated by
millions of Americans. His powerful words, broadcast nationwide,
delivered a positive message of hope and resilience:
This great Nation will endure as it has
endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me
assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear
itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes
needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection was inducted into
Historic Hotels of America as a Charter Member in 1989 and dates to
1925.
Hawthorne Hotel (1925) Salem, Massachusetts
Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts, opened in the historic
town’s central neighborhood in 1925 and was named after author
Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose life and works are closely associated
with the town. The Hawthorne Hotel, which overlooks Salem Common
and the Salem Witch Museum, is the perfect base for exploring
Hawthorne’s world. A walk around the Salem Common and Derby Street
neighborhood takes visitors past Hawthorne’s childhood home, the
house where he wrote The Scarlet Letter (1850), the Custom House
where he worked as a surveyor, and the iconic House of the Seven
Gables—the backdrop for his famed novel of the same name. The
hotel’s history is intertwined with the arrival of artist Bela
Pratt’s 1910 sculpture of Nathaniel Hawthorne in Salem Common. The
statue stood for nearly a decade at the front entrance to the
Boston Museum of Fine Arts and was acquired by the Hawthorne
Memorial Association just as the hotel was preparing to open. With
the arrival of the sculpture and the hotel’s nearby location, the
founders agreed to name the hotel after Hawthorne. Today, guests
are invited to learn about Nathaniel Hawthorne’s connection to
Salem within the hotel, too. At the hotel’s restaurant Nathaniel’s,
guests can order a modern take on his favorite bread pudding. A
portrait of the writer is the centerpiece of the dining room, with
framed plaques about his family, work, and life adorning the walls.
In the hotel lobby, his popular novels are prominently displayed.
In Spring 2024, the hotel is offering a “Literary Legacy of
Nathaniel Hawthorne” package for guests who want to learn more.
This package includes a guided tour of the House of the Seven
Gables, a copy of The Scarlet Letter, a certificate for Hawthorne’s
favorite dessert, and a walking map highlighting Hawthorne’s
neighborhood. Hawthorne Hotel is part of the Salem Common Historic
District and the hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America
in 1991.
Inn on Boltwood (1926) Amherst, Massachusetts
Two esteemed American poets are closely associated with the
historic Inn on Boltwood in Amherst, Massachusetts: Robert Frost
and Emily Dickinson. Opened in 1926 and owned by Amherst College,
the inn was occasionally the home of Robert Frost during his time
teaching at the college. Frost stayed in Room 13, which was later
changed to Room 6 after the inn's restoration and renovation in
2011. Frost gave his first lecture at the college in 1916, before
the inn opened, and began staying at the inn when visiting Amherst
to teach in the 1920s. Originally from San Francisco, Frost admired
Amherst for its serene and picturesque settings, the kind that
influenced much of his poetry. Another writer honored at the hotel
is the poet Emily Dickinson. In the 18th century, Dickinson lived
and worked in Amherst her entire life. Although that life preceded
the Inn on Boltwood, several of the inn’s event spaces are named
after Emily Dickinson and Samuel Fowler Dickinson, her grandfather
and one of the founders of Amherst College. The inn is within
walking distance of the Emily Dickinson Museum (also owned by
Amherst College). Inn on Boltwood was inducted into Historic Hotels
of America in 2011.
Omni Berkshire Place (1926) New York, New York
After waking up at New York City’s historic Omni Berkshire
Place, guests might be tempted to hum, “Oh, What a Beautiful
Mornin’” because this is the hotel where Oklahoma!—and a famous
American theater duo—was born. The first musical collaboration
between theater composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist and producer
Oscar Hammerstein II emerged when they met at the hotel in Spring
1942 to discuss a project that became Oklahoma!. A grand hotel
located between Madison and Fifth Avenue, artists and socialites
have been known to make the Omni Berkshire Place their permanent
address, and theatergoers would flock to its famous Barberry Room
for dinner and drinks after a show. After Richard Rodgers’s regular
writing partner left the country, he pursued working with Oscar
Hammerstein II on a new musical based on the 1931 play Green Grow
the Lilacs. That spring, they met in the hotel’s Barberry Room, now
called Berk’s Bar, to discuss an adaptation. From that meeting came
the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, the wildly popular
Oklahoma!, which ran on Broadway for five years and nine weeks. The
hotel's presidential suite is named the Rodgers & Hammerstein
Suite in their honor, with a plaque placed in the suite in 1972 by
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Omni
Berkshire Place, a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2010,
dates to 1926.
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (1927) Sonoma,
California
Author Jack London is known for setting his novels, such as The
Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906), in places far-flung
from most of his readers, such as the South Pacific Ocean and the
Yukon Territory, but Sonoma County, the home of the historic
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, frequently appears in Jack
London's works. London’s formative years–and his final years, as
well–were spent in Northern California. During the last years of
his life, London reportedly wrote 1,000 words a day to finance his
sprawling ranch atop Sonoma Mountain. London passed away in 1916,
at the age of 40, and the resort hotel opened 11 years later. Now
operated by the state of California as the Jack London State
Historic Park and open to the public, London's ranch is a 15-minute
drive from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Although
London never visited the hotel, it honors him as a local historic
figure and named one of the hotel’s signature suites after the
local novelist. The iconic Spanish Mission-style resort offers
guests the opportunity to stay in its Jack London Suite, which
features décor inspired by the writer. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
& Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2014.
The Don CeSar (1928) St. Pete Beach, Florida
Nestled on St. Pete Beach in Florida, The Don CeSar is a beacon
of luxury that opened at the height of the Roaring Twenties. Named
for the chivalrous character Don César in William Vincent Wallace’s
1845 opera Maritana, the grand resort hotel instantly attracted
some of the era's biggest stars, including writers such as F. Scott
Fitzgerald. One of the most recent among its celebrated literary
connections is novelist Nicholas Sparks's 2022 novel, Dreamland.
Sparks's work is about a young couple that meets right in front of
The Don CeSar, and it weaves a narrative of love, loss, and
redemption that resonates deeply with readers. The themes of the
book echo the hotel’s early lore. In the 1890s, future hotelier
Thomas Rowe attended the opera Maritana where he met Lucinda, a
beautiful opera singer. Thomas and Lucinda fell in love; he called
her “Maritana,” and she called him her “Don César,” after the
characters in the opera. But Lucinda’s parents disapproved, and the
lovers parted. Heartbroken, Thomas moved to Florida and founded The
Don CeSar, a tribute to his lost love. While it is unknown if the
hotel’s romantic origins inspired Sparks, the author is a frequent
guest of the resort. The Don CeSar was inducted as a Charter Member
of Historic Hotels of America in 1989 and dates to 1928.
“Historic Hotels of America is pleased to announce The 2024 Top
25 Historic Hotels of America Most Literary Hotels List during
National Poetry Month this April,” said Lawrence P. Horwitz,
Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic
Hotels Worldwide. “This list of 25 authentic hotels underscores the
value of historic places in literary history. Historic hotels are
not merely locations where, by chance, writing happened. They are
unique, with their own charming personalities, and offer the best
in hospitality, which together encourage guests to be productive in
their writing craft.”
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing,
celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United
States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was
chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization. The National Trust for Historic
Preservation is leading the movement to save places where our
history happened. To be nominated and selected for membership in
this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old;
designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National
Historic Landmark, or listed in or eligible for listing in the
National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having
historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels
inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 45 states, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels
faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place,
and architectural integrity.
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Katherine Orr Historic Hotels of America® │ Historic Hotels
Worldwide® Director, Marketing Strategy and Communications Tel:
+1-202-772-8337 korr@historichotels.org