Step Back in Time: 7 Historic US Hotels Worth Visiting, Including a Hilton
Experiencing the charm of bygone eras is guaranteed with a stay at one of these fascinating historic properties across the United States. Ted Thornhill, US Travel Editor, serves as your guide to these timeless destinations, all listed by Historic Hotels of America, with some origins stretching back over three centuries.
Americans who believe they must travel abroad to immerse themselves in true antiquity can save on long-haul airfares by exploring closer to home. The U.S. is richly peppered with places to stay that boast deep historical roots, offering a unique blend of heritage and hospitality.
In fact, it is possible to book a night in buildings dating back three centuries or more, providing an authentic glimpse into the past. Here, we reveal seven of the oldest and most captivating examples, starting with a New Mexico Hilton that traces its history back over 400 years. Our round-up also includes a former convent in Puerto Rico with mid-17th-century origins and a Massachusetts inn that played a pivotal role in the American Revolution.
The hotels featured below have welcomed iconic figures from history, including presidents like George Washington and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as well as literary greats such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. They have provided refuge for early settlers, graced famous paintings, and even contributed to the formation of the U.S. Constitution.
As for the oldest hotel that has continuously operated as one, that honor goes to a property in New York state. Read on to discover how to transform your next vacation into a time-traveling adventure through these historic gems.
1. Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza — 1625, New Mexico
The Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza can trace its history back to 1625, making it one of the oldest hotel settings in the United States, though it did not begin welcoming paying guests until the mid-20th century. Originally the hacienda of New Mexico's influential Ortiz Family, this property retains elements of its original Pueblo-style architecture, including adobe walls and planked ceilings.
Today, the estate features 158 rooms and suites, with many located within the preserved 17th-century coach house. Situated on the doorstep of the Santa Fe Plaza, a gathering place since 1610, this hotel offers a direct connection to centuries of history.
2. Hotel El Convento — 1651, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hotel El Convento began life as a Carmelite convent in 1651 during the reign of King Philip IV of Spain. It served as a place of quiet contemplation for over 250 years before closing in 1903. After decades of abandonment, it was rescued from demolition by American businessman Robert Woolworth and reopened as a hotel in 1962, with two additional floors and 100 rooms adorned with Spanish-style furnishings.
Further renovations in the mid-1990s by San Juan business leaders have transformed it into one of the island's most elegant addresses. Located in the heart of Old San Juan, the hotel exudes a historic sense of place with mahogany beams and Andalusian tile floors.
3. Concord’s Colonial Inn — 1716, Concord, Massachusetts
Concord’s Colonial Inn has a storied history dating to 1716, when its oldest building was erected by Captain James Minot as a private residence. In 1775, it entered the history books when one wing was used by local militia, known as "Minutemen," as a military storehouse, and British forces targeted it for destruction during the first battle of the American Revolution.
In the early 19th century, naturalist Henry David Thoreau resided here while attending Harvard. The site transitioned to a boarding house around 1835-1837 and began operating as a hotel in 1889. Today, located on Monument Square, it features 56 well-appointed rooms within an intriguing amalgamation of historical buildings defined by Federal-style architecture.
4. Historic Inns of Annapolis — 1727, Annapolis, Maryland
At the Historic Inns of Annapolis, guests check in at a central reception but stay in rooms spread across three separate historic buildings: the Governor Calvert House, the Robert Johnson House, and the Maryland Inn. These buildings are clustered around the Maryland State House, the oldest U.S. state capitol in continuous legislative use.
Each building has its own architectural character and historical significance, with the Maryland Inn having hosted dignitaries like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington when Annapolis served as the U.S. capital. Merged in the 1970s, these properties offer a unique glimpse into America's early political history.
5. John Rutledge House Inn — 1763, Charleston, South Carolina
Constructed in 1763 by John Rutledge for his new bride, the John Rutledge House Inn is one of only 15 homes of signers of the U.S. Constitution still standing. Rutledge is said to have worked on drafts of the document from the building’s second-floor study, and it later hosted presidents George Washington and William Taft.
Converted into a boarding house in 1889 and a full-time hotel in 1989, today it features four-poster canopy beds, marble fireplaces, and antique chairs, set in the heart of Charleston’s historic district with 19 rooms that transport guests to a bygone era.
6. The Beekman Arms and Delamater Inn — 1766, Rhinebeck, New York
The Beekman Arms claims to be America’s oldest continuously running inn, having provided overnight rooms since 1704. Originally the Traphagen Tavern, it was rebuilt in 1766 and played a role in the Revolutionary War, with militia drilling on its lawn and townspeople taking refuge within its walls.
It hosted revolutionaries like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, and in the early 20th century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt concluded his political campaigns with speeches on its front porch. Expanded in 1979 to include the Delamater Inn, it offers charmingly creaky floors, fireplaces, and quaint bedrooms.
7. The Red Lion Inn — 1773, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
The Red Lion Inn, established in 1773 as a simple crossroads tavern, is recognizable from Norman Rockwell’s painting Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas. It drew trade from stagecoach travelers and hosted anti-British gatherings before the American Revolution.
After a 19th-century expansion, it attracted literary figures like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as presidents including both Roosevelts and Calvin Coolidge. Today, it features a quaint rocking-chair-adorned porch and 125 rooms decorated with floral fabrics and four-poster beds.
These seven historic hotels offer not just a place to stay, but a journey through American history, making them perfect for travelers seeking a time-traveling adventure without leaving the country.
