MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel – Chicago to Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 20 storied Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties have been designated to join the prestigious Historic Hotels of America™ organization. The official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation®, Historic Hotels of America recognizes and celebrates the finest hotels for faithfully maintaining their authenticity, sense of place and architectural integrity. To qualify for the program, hotels 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 have historic significance.
As the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts boasts a vibrant 95-year history marked by once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and iconic moments that have taken place at many of its more than 550 properties across six continents in more than 80 countries and territories. Combining touches of classic grandeur with industry-leading amenities geared for today’s modern traveler, each honored historic hotel exemplifies Hilton’s commitment to setting the stage for some of the world’s most celebrated moments.
“From the invention of the classic piña colada, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, to the role the brand has played in some of the world’s most famous events, including hosting Civil Rights March leaders following Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in 1965, we are proud of Hilton Hotels & Resorts’ notable past and continued evolution,” said Rob Palleschi, global head, full service brands, Hilton Worldwide. “The distinctive properties joining Historic Hotels of America exemplify the brand’s status as the global leader of hospitality, and we are honored to share the stories of so many of our outstanding hotels through this exciting partnership.”
In celebration of the achievement, Hilton Hotels & Resorts invites guests, team members and members of our communities to take a journey back in time with vibrant stories, photos and historical facts available online at Historic.Hilton.com.
The properties that have been recognized by the prestigious Historic Hotels of America program include:
| Hawaii | 1957 |
Setting of Elvis Presley’s famed movie, “Blue Hawaii” (1961) |
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| Illinois | 1873 | Invented the brownie when Bertha Palmer requested a dessert for ladies attending the Chicago 1893 World's Fair | ||||||
| Illinois | 1927 |
In 1942, the U.S. Army purchased the hotel for $6 million for use as barracks and classrooms for the Army Air Force during World War II |
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| Illinois | 1923 | Named in honor of Orrington Lunt, well-known philanthropist and co-founder of Northwestern University | ||||||
| Illinois | 1920 | Newlyweds Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio carved their initials into the bar’s wooden counter | ||||||
| Kentucky | 1905 | Inspired Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s wedding reception in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” | ||||||
| Louisiana | 1926 | Upon completion, this magnificent 20-story Gothic Revival story Neo-Gothic style building was hailed as the first skyscraper in New Orleans | ||||||
| Louisiana | 1927 |
Briefly served as the Louisiana State Capitol in 1931 during a power struggle between Governor Huey Long and Lieutenant Governor Paul Cyr |
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| Massachusetts | 1928 | Boston’s first Art Deco skyscraper that was originally designed as an office building | ||||||
| Missouri | 1926 | Headquarters for the 1928 Republican National Convention | ||||||
| Missouri | 1888 |
Retains the original vaults of its 19th century predecessor, Merchant Laclède National Bank |
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| New Mexico | 1625 | Housed in a landmark 300-year-old hacienda; three luxury casitas were built within the adobe walls of the original coach house of the 17th century estate | ||||||
| New York | 1931 |
The 20-story Tudor City apartment complex at 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue was hailed as the first residential skyscraper complex in the world upon the building’s completion |
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| Ohio | 1931 | One of the world’s finest examples of French Art Deco style; hotel has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark | ||||||
| Oklahoma | 1911 | Provided a safe room for guests to privately drink during the Prohibition era | ||||||
| Texas | 1921 | President Kennedy delivered his last address in the Crystal Ballroom, on Nov. 22, 1963 | ||||||
| Washington, D.C. | 1943 | Built a hidden auto-lift for President Franklin D. Roosevelt to access the second-floor Presidential Ballroom | ||||||
| Wisconsin | 1928 | The city’s largest classic Art Deco hotel with rich furnishing and distinctive architecture | ||||||
| Puerto Rico | 1949 | Beachcombers Bar is the birthplace of the piña colada (1954); hotel is located two miles from Old San Juan, a UNESCO World Heritage site | ||||||
| Puerto Rico | 1963 | Designed by renowned architect Morris Lapidus, known for his neo-baroque modern style that defined the era | ||||||
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* Listed in the National Register of Historic Places |
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“These diverse and fascinating Hilton historic hotels celebrate rich aspects of the heritage, history and culture of the United States of America,” said Lawrence Horwitz, executive director, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “We are proud to welcome these iconic and legendary hotels as members of Historic Hotels of America. Hilton Hotels & Resorts has an impressive record for saving and restoring some of the finest historic hotels going back to its founder, Conrad Hilton.”
In addition to honoring these 20 properties, the organization recognized two existing Hilton Hotels & Resorts Historic Hotels of America properties with the Historic Hotels of America 2014 Awards of Excellence:
- Historic Hotelier of the Year – Michel Sheer, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
- Hotel Historian of the Year – Ken Price, Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel – Chicago
- Best Historic Hotel (over 400 guestrooms) – Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel – Chicago
- Best Historic Restaurant in Conjunction with a Historic Hotel – Orchids at Palm Court, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
In celebration of the honor, many of the recognized hotels may welcome guests to experience the history and evolution of their properties through lobby photography exhibitions, special events, promotions and more throughout the year.
For more information, visit Historic.Hilton.com or the Hilton Global Media Center at news.hilton.com.
About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Founded in 1919 as the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of savvy global travelers at more than 550 hotels across six continents. Hilton is the stylish, forward-thinking global leader in hospitality with Team Members shaping experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected. Access the latest news at news.hilton.com and begin your journey at www.hilton.com or www.hilton.com/offers for the latest hotel specials. View a list of official social channels at www.hilton.com/social. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide’s 12 brands.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,200 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 690,000 rooms in 93 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.
About Historic Hotels of America
Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation® for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels of America was founded in 1989 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation with 32 charter members. Today, Historic Hotels of America has more than 260 historic hotels. These historic hotels have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America, including 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Historic Hotels of America is comprised of mostly independently owned and operated properties. More than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains, and collections are represented in Historic Hotels of America. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; has been 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 historic significance. For more information, please visit www.HistoricHotels.org.
This year Historic Hotels of America celebrates 25 years. Watch the anniversary video here.
