Hilton highlights heritage hotels for America’s 250th anniversary

Hilton has highlighted historic and architecturally distinctive hotels across the United States in a newsroom feature published on 24 June 2026, tying properties in its portfolio to the country’s 250th anniversary. The selection spans former industrial buildings, a railway station, a bank and regional architectural landmarks operating under brands including Curio Collection, Tapestry Collection and LXR Hotels & Resorts.

The company said the properties offer ways for travellers to connect with local history through architecture and design. For hotel operators, the examples show how retained building features have become part of the hospitality offer, from a bank vault converted into a cocktail venue to a preserved rooftop ballroom.

Factories and a railway station find new uses

In Pennsylvania Dutch Country, The Wilbur Lititz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton occupies a former chocolate factory that contributed to the town’s economy. Original architectural features remain part of the hotel’s interiors, retaining a link to Lititz’s manufacturing history.

The Foundry Hotel Asheville, Curio Collection by Hilton follows a similar approach in North Carolina. Its former steel foundry supplied materials for the nearby Biltmore Estate, and the hotel retains exposed brick, steel details and other industrial features.

At St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, the setting is the city’s 1894 railway station. High ceilings, archways and large public halls preserve elements of the building’s earlier role as a gateway for rail passengers.

Banking heritage and sustainability-led restoration

The Waymark Chattanooga, Tapestry Collection by Hilton occupies a building completed in 1927 for the Chattanooga Savings Bank & Trust Company. Designed by R.H. Hunt, it later stood vacant for nearly twenty years before its restoration.

Arched windows, marble detailing and the original bank vault have been retained. The vault now houses a speakeasy, while a rooftop bar provides another food and beverage venue within the converted property.

Hilton also highlighted Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a 58-room property it identifies as Syracuse’s first LEED Platinum-certified hotel. Built as a temple in 1922, the structure subsequently became a performing arts centre before its conversion to hotel use, with original architectural elements preserved.

In Connecticut, Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton combines a modernist building with a sustainability-focused hotel operation. Hilton cites Passive House certification and anticipated net-zero status as central features of the property’s transformation.

Regional identity shapes interiors and dining

Hayes Mansion San Jose, Curio Collection by Hilton connects its restored estate setting to the Santa Clara Valley’s agricultural history. Built in 1905 by the Hayes family, the residence originally included its own power plant, post office and chapel; the family was involved in politics, fruit production and newspapers.

Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza occupies a 350-year-old hacienda in downtown Santa Fe. Its design incorporates a kiva fireplace, earth-toned materials and handcrafted details associated with the Southwest.

In Kentucky, The Campbell House Lexington, Curio Collection by Hilton combines colonial-inspired architecture with equestrian references, including oversized barn doors. Its newly renovated Rackhouse Tavern is a Kentucky Bourbon Trail member and offers more than 300 bourbons alongside local beers on tap, according to Hilton.

Historic city hotels retain distinctive features

Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton opened in 1898 with French Renaissance architecture influenced by Loire Valley châteaux. The founding site of the Professional Golfers’ Association, it retains a marble spiral staircase and gold Cutler mailbox, alongside displays of original room keys and historic bar menus.

Cameo Beverly Hills, LXR Hotels & Resorts reopened last December following its transformation. Originally built in 1965, the hotel retains floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening onto private balconies in all 138 guest rooms.

Its preserved 12th-floor Starlight Rooftop Ballroom includes Murano glass chandeliers and views extending towards Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign and Santa Monica. Hilton also included Hilton Boston Park Plaza, which has stood at the edge of Back Bay since 1927, in its anniversary-focused selection.