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 19th
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
19th 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.
