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FACT SHEET
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON PROPERTIES HONORED BY
HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA™
Five storied DoubleTree by Hilton 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.
M E D IA C O N T AC T :
NAME
DoubleTree by Hilton
Sarah Lipman
[email protected]
For more information about these five properties and other DoubleTree by Hilton
brand and hotel news, please visit: news.doubletree.com.
Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – a DoubleTree by Hilton
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Year Opened: 1882
Located in downtown Roanoke, Va. in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge
Mountains, this beautifully restored, Tudor-style hotel was picked by
USA Today Travel in 2013 as one of their favorite historic hotels in
America.
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – a DoubleTree by Hilton
invites relaxation, with a deep veranda concealed from summer sun by
fragrant wisteria. It is this allure that has drawn U.S. presidents,
governors, millionaires, theater and sports stars, political and business
conventions, and Miss Virginia Pageant contestants to the hotel.
Did you know?
• The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center – a DoubleTree by Hilton
was first constructed as a railroad property in 1882 (Norfolk
Western, now Norfolk Southern), as part of a comprehensive
community development plan by enterprising railroad magnate
Frederick J. Kimball.
• In 1940, Chef Fred Brown, with the direction from General Manager
George Dennison, created the hotel’s signature dish, Peanut Soup
and Spoonbread. The dish is still celebrated and honored locally
and regionally.
• The hotel has been in partnership with the Miss Virginia Pageant
since its beginning in 1953, including hosting the event on-site for
its first few years. Today, the property hosts the contestants,
friends, families and holds preliminary events in its event space.
St. Louis Union Station – a DoubleTree by Hilton
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Year Opened: 1894
The St. Louis Union Station Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton is a historic AAA
Four Diamond luxury hotel known and called by its namesake, which was an
active train terminal until 1978. This National Historic Landmark is located
in the center of St. Louis, near sports venues such as Busch Stadium,
Ballpark Village, Edward Jones Dome and Scottrade Center. The Headhouse
Grand Hall, otherwise known as the hotel lobby, is designed with sweeping
archways, fresco and gold leaf detailing, mosaics and art glass windows.
Did you know?
• The famous photograph of Harry S. Truman holding the Chicago Tribune
with the headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman," was taken at the station as
Truman headed back to Washington, D.C. from Independence, Mo. after
the 1948 Presidential Election.
• In 1981, The Grand Hall was used in John Carpenter's movie “Escape
from New York."
• The Grand Hall used to be home to a two-ton chandelier with 350 light
bulbs. In 1942, it was sold for $22 for scrap to aid in World War II.
• Surrounding the Allegorical Window in The Grand Hall is the
“Whispering Arch.” If one person stands facing the wall on the right side
and one facing on the left side, you can speak to each other in a normal
tone, even though you’re 40 feet apart! There have been numerous
marriage proposals, as well as bootlegging deals, brokered by
communicating through the “Whispering Arch.”
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown – Fort Shelby
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Year Opened: 1916
Having undergone major refurbishment, the hotel has been restored to its
former Beaux-Arts-style high rise glory, with a modern edge to create the
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown - Fort Shelby. The property
offers more space than many hotels in Detroit, as well as modern all-suite
accommodations in the heart of the city.
Did you know?
• The site of the hotel is where the British originally erected Fort Shelby
in 1779 as a defense against Americans during the American
Revolution.
• The evacuation of the fort by the British on July 11, 1796 was the
closing act of the War of Independence.
The Tudor Arms Cleveland – a DoubleTree by Hilton
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Year Opened: 1933
A Gothic Revival building, the historic Tudor Arms offers stylish and
sophisticated accommodations in the heart of Cleveland's East Side Cultural
District. Only four miles from the downtown Cleveland business district, the
University Circle area hotel offers proximity to the Cleveland Clinic and
University Hospital, and is also within walking distance of Case Western
Reserve University. Originally built in 1933, the hotel has been painstakingly
restored to in order to preserve its status as a historical landmark, with two
beautiful ballrooms adorned with classic, Old World architecture.
Did you know?
• The Tudor Arms played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement of the
1960s, remaining a beacon for the community as a place to meet and
unwind in an era when social unrest, rioting and looting were
commonplace.
• Years before the famous Brown vs Board of Education ruling, when the
United States was struggling with the issue of segregation in public
schools, The Tudor Arms hotel played host to racially-integrated senior
proms.
• In the height of its time, The Tudor Arms hotel was famous for its music
scene and hosted jazz musicians that kept the venue swinging well into
the night.
The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Year Opened: 1924
The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton is an iconic property
that blends historic charm and legendary tales with modern Texas flair.
Known as the “Official Hotel of the Alamo,” the property exemplifies urban
adventure in the heart of San Antonio. With stylish and charismatic
guestrooms that exude luxury, lavish amenities and outstanding guest
services, the hotel is a welcome retreat for both business and leisure
travelers.
Did you know?
• The building was formerly the Medical Arts Building that housed doctor's
offices, a hospital and, later, an office complex.
• The hotel’s name originates from the famous story of a servant girl,
Emily D. West, who wooed the Mexican General Santa Anna during the
Battle of San Jacinto.
• The building’s architecture is influenced by the Gothic Revival, with
design features that include cast iron, unique ornamentation and a
copper roof with wood ribs. One of the most interesting architectural
features of the building is the array of gargoyles that line the building,
each portraying a medical ailment.