Sleep Historic

Whenever traveling anywhere where a hotel is needed, my preference has always been staying at a historic hotel. Not that a luxurious spa or hotel wouldn’t be nice, there’s something about the historic value of staying at an old hotel that connects to me. Numerous old hotels remain today, competing against the hotel chains that are the same no matter which state you go to. Older hotels, on the other hand, are unique in their own ways. The architecture and style are different, the interior design is different, and the stories are different. Like I’ve said in a previous blog, walls can talk. History in these buildings remain and the preserved hotels bring uniqueness to each not only story, but memories that remain as the years pass by. Yes, some often have ghost stories. Possibly they are indeed haunted (look back at the blog: The Jerome Grand Hotel – A Ghostly Tale) while others are not. Some claim to be haunted to keep tourists coming to their establishment while others are truly haunted – in my opinion anyway. Whether or not haunted, the historic value of each differs where whenever I travel, I’d much rather prefer staying at an old and historic hotel than the standard hotel chain that is everywhere throughout the United States and world. In regards to historic hotels, I’ll share the ones I’ve stayed at with a little history and photograph of each.

Connor Hotel 

Jerome, Arizona

Jerome was a large mining town in Northern Arizona and once had a population of nearly 5,000 people but today, less than 500. Built in 1898, the Connor Hotel has interior features including brick walls and a slanted floor due to settling throughout the years. The hotel is next door to the old theater in Jerome, directly down the old and historic main street. A beautiful, small hotel.

Copper Queen Hotel 

Bisbee, Arizona

The Copper Queen Hotel was built and opened in 1902 in the thriving copper mining town of Bisbee, Arizona. Many guests have signed the guest list including John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and many others. Being the longest operating hotel in Arizona, the hotel has kept a lot of its original design and been preserved well throughout the years.

Delaware Hotel 

Leadville, Colorado

During the late 19^th Century, Leadville had a peak population of around 15,000 but today has less than 3,000. Being a former hub for mining due to the rich ore around Leadville, many people came here in hopes of riches and fortune. Built in 1886, the hotel feature historic photographs and furniture in each room and the hallways. The rooms have a lot of historic Victorian value and original charm to keep its authenticity.

Hotel Congress 

Tucson, Arizona

The hotel resides in the heart of downtown Tucson, directly across from the Rialto Theatre. The hotel was built in 1919 but is best known for the fire in 1934. John Dillinger was staying here and was able to flee during the fire from the third story (which is now gone) but was soon captured. The rooms are preserved to look as they did when the hotel was first built – even using the hotel’s original phone switchboard.

Jerome Grand

Jerome, Arizona

This building was built in 1926 as the United Verde Hospital, owned by the United Verde Copper Company. It was said that 15,000 people died in the hospital before closing in the 1950s. Many died due to the town’s mining and diseases such as black lung. After standing 44 years unoccupied, it re-opened as a hotel in 1996. The hotel features the still operating Arizona’s first self-service elevator by Otis which was installed in 1926 and the original Kewanee Boiler, also installed the same year. Known to be very haunted.

Peck House

Empire, Colorado

The historic Peck House was originally built in 1863 and was built by James Peck. Throughout the rest of the 19^th Century, additions were added and the building became a hotel in 1872. P.T. Barnum and many Civil War generals stayed in the hotel and the Peck House was Colorado’s longest continuous hotel until it was closed in 2014 to become a private residence.

Manresa Castle 

Port Townsend, Washington

The building was constructed in 1892 as a private residence. With walls that are twelve inches thick, construction was built to last. In 1927, after being vacant a couple of decades, Jesuit priests purchased the building to use as a training college to study ascetic theology. In 1968, the Jesuits left and the building became a hotel, featuring many upgrades while keeping the historical value intact to the beautiful building.