The Drake Hotel, Chicago when it opened in 1920 — Photo by Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels & Resorts®

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.

"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."

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:

Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort Hawaii 1957 Setting of Elvis Presley’s famed movie, “Blue Hawaii” (1961)
Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel Illinois 1873 Invented the brownie when Bertha Palmer requested a dessert for ladies attending the Chicago 1893 World's Fair
Hilton Chicago 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
Hilton Orrington/Evanston Illinois 1923 Named in honor of Orrington Lunt, well-known philanthropist and co-founder of Northwestern University
The Drake Hotel* Illinois 1920 Newlyweds Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio carved their initials into the bar’s wooden counter
The Seelbach Hilton Louisville Kentucky 1905 Inspired Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s wedding reception in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue Louisiana 1926 Upon completion, this magnificent 20-story Gothic Revival story Neo-Gothic style building was hailed as the first skyscraper in New Orleans
Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center* Louisiana 1927 Briefly served as the Louisiana State Capitol in 1931 during a power struggle between Governor Huey Long and Lieutenant Governor Paul Cyr
Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall Massachusetts 1928 Boston’s first Art Deco skyscraper that was originally designed as an office building
Hilton President Kansas City* Missouri 1926 Headquarters for the 1928 Republican National Convention
Hilton St. Louis Downtown at the Arch Missouri 1888 Retains the original vaults of its 19th century predecessor, Merchant Laclède National Bank
Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza 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
Hilton Manhattan East 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
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza 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
The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City* Oklahoma 1911 Provided a safe room for guests to privately drink during the Prohibition era
Hilton Fort Worth* Texas 1921 President Kennedy delivered his last address in the Crystal Ballroom, on Nov. 22, 1963
The Capital Hilton Washington, D.C. 1943 Built a hidden auto-lift for President Franklin D. Roosevelt to access the second-floor Presidential Ballroom
Hilton Milwaukee City Center* Wisconsin 1928 The city’s largest classic Art Deco hotel with rich furnishing and distinctive architecture
Caribe Hilton 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
The Condado Plaza Hilton Puerto Rico 1963 Designed by renowned architect Morris Lapidus, known for his neo-baroque modern style that defined the era
* Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

"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 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.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,800 properties and more than 1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2021 World's Best Workplaces list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. In 2021, in addition to opening more than one hotel a day, Hilton introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the nearly 128 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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