Hilton highlights heritage hotels for America’s 250th anniversary

Hilton is highlighting hotels across the United States with connections to national history and popular culture as the country marks its 250th anniversary. The company’s selection spans properties associated with the Continental Congress, American literature, architectural history and Hollywood.

In its July newsroom feature, Hilton said travellers were increasingly seeking experiences connected to the people and places behind historical stories. For hotel operators, the properties provide examples of how those connections are incorporated into existing accommodation through restoration, architectural details, dining concepts and guided experiences.

Historic buildings across Hilton’s collection brands

In Pennsylvania, The Yorktowne Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, stands near the site where the Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation. According to Hilton, the restored 100-year-old downtown property gives guests access to York’s Revolutionary War history, including its period as the seat of the Continental Congress.

The Candler Hotel Atlanta, Curio Collection by Hilton, occupies a building constructed in 1906 for Asa Griggs Candler, whom Hilton identifies as a Coca-Cola founder and former Atlanta mayor. Described by the company as Atlanta’s first steel skyscraper, it retains original Beaux-Arts features and a bank vault beneath the building.

Hilton links the vault to local stories suggesting it once held the secret Coca-Cola formula, but presents that connection as unverified lore rather than established history. The building’s surviving architecture forms a separate, tangible part of its heritage.

Florida properties in the selection include The Terrace Hotel Lakeland, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which opened in 1924 and has hosted architects and automotive pioneers, according to the company. The restored lakefront hotel sits on Main Street in downtown Lakeland.

Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton, opened in 1920 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hilton said the resort briefly became a U.S. Navy headquarters during World War II, before resuming its role as a hotel and social gathering place.

Architecture and music shape the guest setting

At Arizona Biltmore, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton points to Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence on the resort’s design. The 39-acre property opened in 1929 and completed a comprehensive transformation in 2023.

Its Catalina Pool was built by William Wrigley Jr. and features custom Art Deco tiles shipped from Catalina Island, California, according to Hilton. The company identifies the pool as part of the resort’s historical appeal to Hollywood guests.

In Tennessee, Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown uses the city’s music industry as a design reference. Hilton describes the 30-story property as the brand’s largest hotel in the United States, with a crown resembling an open grand piano, violin-bow-inspired structural elements and a façade referencing sheet music.

The Nashville selection also includes Tempo by Hilton properties in Downtown and Midtown. The Downtown hotel pairs proximity to Broadway’s live music venues with Bluestone Lane dining, while the Midtown property includes Moonsong Bar & Dining and flexible social spaces.

Literary and entertainment links become experiences

Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton, opened in 1888 and hosted L. Frank Baum during extended visits in which he wrote three books in the Wizard of Oz series, according to Hilton. The company said his influence also extends to the Crown Room’s chandelier designs.

The Beverly Hilton, which opened in 1955 at Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, features through its association with the Golden Globe Awards. Hilton highlights the International Ballroom’s role in hosting entertainment-industry ceremonies, speeches and appearances.

Guests can explore these historical connections through experiences already offered at several properties. Following a six-year revitalisation, Hotel del Coronado offers its Legendary Tour and a self-guided audio experience, while Casa Marina’s Canary Room draws its dining identity from Ernest Hemingway’s short story A Canary for One.