Historic Hotels in Chicago, St Louis and Mid West USA

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20 Most Historic USA Hotels and Inns | Heritage Hotels of the South | Heritage Hotels of the West
Heritage Hotels of the Mid West | Heritage Hotels of South West USA
Heritage Hotels of New York and the Mid-Atlantic States | Heritage Hotels of New England

Illinois

The Drake Hotel. Chicago. It may not even be a century old, but the Drake Hotel deserves its place on the U.S National Register of Historic Places. After extensive refurbishment over the past decade, the hotel now boasts over 500 rooms, more than 70 suites (including an impressive six-room Presidential Suite) and 4 restaurants. A veritable mixed bag of the twentieth century’s great & good have called The Drake home-from-home: Winston Churchill (1929), President Herbert Hoover (1931), Cecil B. De Mille (1931), Bing Crosby (1932), George Gershwin (1933), Guglielmo Marconi (1933), and Amelia Earheart (1933), to name but a few. Booking.com | Lastminute.com

Palmer House. Chicago. Alas, the original hotel on the site was destroyed by fire only thirteen days after opening in 1871. And the second made way for an even grander building in the early twentieth century. That said, Hilton Palmer House remains an iconic Chicago landmark to this day. From a literary perspective, Palmer House has welcomed such figures as Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain. Politically, William McKinley, Grover Cleveland, James Garfield, and Ulysses S Grant are all former guests. Discover more practical details with Booking.com | Expedia

Aldrich Guest House. Galena. Built in 1845, Aldrich Guest House was once the private home of an influential Illinois politician. Today it provides much sought-after bed & breakfast accommodation with five individually furnished guest rooms. It is said that both Abraham Lincoln and President Grant were both entertained at the house, with the latter recorded as having trained Northern troops on the gardens surrounding the home. TripAdvisor

Victorian Mansion. Galena. Dating back to 1856, this fine Victorian house has entertained many influential and powerful figures during its time. Of these perhaps Ulysses S Grant is the most notable, having delivered a speech to the people of Galena from the building’s balcony. It offers 8 guest rooms in all, each decorated and furnished in keeping with the house’s distinguished heritage. TripAdvisor

The Patchwork Inn. Oregon. It is said that Abraham Lincoln stopped here for “lunch and lodgings” during the mid 1800’s when the property was known by the name of ‘Moore’s Hotel”. Indeed, the very room in which he slept is available to guests today. TripAdvisor

Indiana

The Old Hoosier House. Knightstown. Golfers will no doubt be interested to learn that this four guest-room bed & breakfast is located conveniently close to the Royal Hylands Golf Club. Built circa 1840, the original owner of the Old Hoosier House, Elisha Scovell, is said to have been close friends with President Martin Van Buren. It is thought that he stayed at the house (in the aptly named Martin Van Buren Scovell Room) in 1844. TripAdvisor

Iowa

Do you know of any accommodation connected to historic figures in Iowa? Please get in touch and let us know.

Kansas

Do you know of any accommodation connected to historic figures in Kansas? Please get in touch and let us know.

Michigan

The Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island. Located on Mackinac Island where no motorised vehicles are allowed, this grand hotel’s primary claim-to-fame is, perhaps, that it possesses the longest porch in the entire world – 660 feet, to be precise. The Grand boasts 385 uniquely furnished rooms, and movie-buffs will probably recognise it having been featured in Somewhere inTime starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Built in 1887, the hotel has been visited by five US Presidents (the earliest being Harry Truman), and was where Mark Twain lectured in 1895. TripAdvisor

Minnesota

St. James Hotel. Red Wing. Despite possessing all the modern conveniences the 21st Century traveller has come to expect, the St. James Hotel maintains its Victorian character both inside and out. Each of its 61 guest rooms is unique, and the hotel also has an award-winning restaurant. Opened on Thanksgiving Day 1875, the St. James’ most notable visitor is, perhaps, President Rutherford B. Hayes. Expedia

Missouri

The Wyndham Roberts Mayfair. St. Louis. Located in downtown St. Louis, this 182 guest-room hotel even has its own outdoor rooftop pool (open seasonally, of course!). A mere youngster by Nights In The Past terms (it was only built in 1925), the Wyndham Roberts Mayfair has still welcomed numerous famous figures and celebrities over its comparatively short history. The names of Irving Berlin and Harry Truman are both in the guest book, as is that of Cary Grant. Expedia

Chase Park Plaza. St. Louis. Every bit the typical Art Deco hotel, Chase Park Plaza has recently been treated to a $100 million restoration. Built in 1922, the hotel boasts five restaurants, five-screen cinema, health club & spa, night club and 251 guest rooms and suites. And at one-million square feet it’s almost a town within a hotel. Favoured by Presidents since opening, the hotel was also a noted venue featuring performers such as Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope. Expedia | Lastminute.com

Lehmann House B&B. St. Louis. Located in historic Lafayette Square, the building was the former home of US Solicitor General, Frederick Lehmann. It features a total of 5 guest rooms. Because of its notable former resident, Lehmann House has welcomed Presidents Taft, Roosevelt (Theodore) and Coolidge. It is also said that several influential writers visited during the early 1900’s. TripAdvisor

Garth Woodside Mansion. Hannibal. Situated in almost forty acres of its own gardens meadows and woodland, Garth Woodside Mansion is a Victorian estate dating back to 1871. Those fond of the works of America’s most celebrated author, Mark Twain, will no doubt want to stay in the room in which he chose to sleep on his numerous visits – today known as the Samuel Clemens Room. Expedia

North Dakota

Do you know of any accommodation connected to historic figures in North Dakota? Please get in touch and let us know.

Ohio

Also see The Buxton Inn and The Golden Lamb. Click here

The Colonel Taylor Inn Bed and Breakfast. Cambridge. On the fringes of the Appalachian Mountains, the Colonel Taylor Inn owes its name to the man who built it in 1878. Today the inn offers 4 uniquely furnished guest rooms. Being a 4-term Congressman, its original owner rubbed shoulders with many of the nation’s rich and powerful. It is unsurprising, therefore, to find that no fewer than three presidents have rested within its walls: Hayes, Garfield and McKinley. Expedia

South Dakota

State Game Lodge. Custer State Park. It might not be particularly old (the construction was complete in 1922), but few places can claim to have acted as a summer home for a president. Indeed, Calvin Coolidge was not the only high-ranking figure to stay here – Dwight D Eisenhower also spent leisure time at the house in 1953. TripAdvisor

Wisconsin

Wisconsin House Stagecoach Inn. Hazel Green. With eight very different rooms and suites, Wisconsin House was built in 1846 at a time when lead mining in the area was at its zenith. It was clearly well constructed being one of only a handful of houses to survive a devastating tornado which hit the town in 1876. It is said that President Ulysses S Grant stayed at the inn on several occasions, being a friend of the then owner. He is known to have last visited in August 1868. TripAdvisor

We are keen to improve and expand Nights In The Past in the future. As such, we would be very grateful to learn of any great places to stay you think we should include in this section. We are seeking all sorts of accommodation providing it is of historic or heritage value, and would appeal to travellers both to or from the USA. Boutique hotels, grand hotels, or rural bed & breakfasts are all of interest, but we urge that suggestions are limited to those providing genuinely excellent hospitality. We sincerely hope you enjoy the site and visit again soon.

Historic Hotels in Mid West USA

Also see our 20 Most Historic Places to Stay in America section for other Mid West heritage hotels

The Drake Hotel, Chicago

Aldrich Guest House, Illinois

Garth Woodside Mansion, Missouri