The Best Historic Hotels to Book for America’s 250th
The Best Historic Hotels to Book for America’s 250th
From Boston to Los Angeles — four cities with serious history, and the stays that make the best home base for celebrating it.
If you don’t have any plans yet for celebrating the semiquincentennial, we’ve got you covered. With celebrations across the country for the Fourth of July, pretty much everywhere has something fun planned — but this list narrows it down even further, selecting stays in our favorite cities with some serious history to back it up.
From Boston to Los Angeles, these hotel picks each have deep history in the city they call home. Whether it’s an Art Deco tower in Chicago or an 18th-century house in Annapolis that once housed not one but two governors, each stay tells a story.
Every one of these cities is doing something special for the 4th. Whether your vibe is more historical reenactment or music festival headlined by modern rock stars, these hotels make perfect home bases for experiencing it all.
Boston
A city that played a central role in our country’s pursuit of independence, Boston predates the country itself and continues to draw visitors year after year. In celebration of the semiquincentennial, expect celebrations across the city — from fireworks to historical reenactments.
The Eliot Hotel
In a city with nearly 400 years of history, it will come as no surprise that there are plenty of historic hotels to book a stay at — but one stands above the rest. First opened in 1925, The Eliot Hotel has been operating for over a century on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue, a tree-lined boulevard that runs through the heart of the city.
Designed in the Neo-Classical Georgian style, the hotel was originally envisioned as a residential pied-à-terre for academics drawn by its proximity to the Harvard Club. Today, the same Parisian glamour and residential style comforts persist, with 95 guest rooms and suites that blend old-world class with modern comforts. Step outside and stroll to shops, dining, and public parks nearby, or stay onsite and dine at the celebrated Japanese izakaya, UNI.
It’s this combination of bygone glamour, historic charm, and modern sensibility that makes it one of Boston’s best stays.
Annapolis
Annapolis is known as a “Museum Without Walls,” and it’s not hard to see why. The city dates back to the 17th century and even served as the nation’s capital before Washington DC. It’s got colonial charm in spades and a whole slew of programming — parades, historic reenactments, fireworks, and even an outdoor screening of Hamilton.
Historic Inns of Annapolis
The draw is in the name. Historic Inns of Annapolis is a collection of three properties in downtown, each with its own character and charm. The flagship property is Governor Calvert House — built in 1727 directly across from the Maryland State House, it housed two governors in the 18th century before being restored to the property it is today. Book a Historic King room for the most historically accurate experience; these were the Governor’s family’s rooms.
The other two properties are just steps away, where guests at all three inns check in. Robert Johnson House is a Georgian-style red brick building with stately poster beds, while Maryland Inn is right on Main St. and boasts an onsite bar, Drummer’s Lot Pub, and Afternoon Tea service.
Despite some serious history underpinning the stays, they’ve incorporated modern comforts visitors will love — luxury bath amenities from Moulton & Brown, mini fridges in each room, and access to a fitness center.
Chicago
While Chicago might not have its roots in the American Revolution, it’s still a city where history shines — known for its bold spirit and incredible architecture, thanks in large part to its many Chicago School and Art Deco skyscrapers. For the 250th, don’t miss Navy Pier’s fireworks, a Declaration of Independence exhibit, and a free Grant Park Orchestra concert at Millennium Park.
The Robey
Located in the hip Wicker Park neighborhood — sometimes called the “Brooklyn of Chicago” — The Robey combines early 20th-century roots with sleek modern sensibilities. Housed in a 12-story landmark dating back to 1929, you can still find traces of its glamorous past life through gleaming bronze elevators and Art Deco details, though room interiors lean industrial with some mid-century modern touches.
On the street level, guests can stop in for brunch at Café Robey, where breakfast favorites and all-day eats are served in a warm, vintage-inspired setting. Head upstairs for some of the coolest bars around: Clever Coyote is an ode to the 90s-era cocktail bar with tiki drinks, arcade games, and a soundtrack to match, while The Up Room fits the classic chic rooftop bill — a terrace with panoramic city views, perfect for catching the fireworks from afar.
Los Angeles
In LA, we’re firmly leaving behind the red-brick historic energy of the East Coast and leaning into a way to celebrate the semiquincentennial that’s a little more West Coast-coded. Catch Chris Stapleton and The Smashing Pumpkins in a benefit concert at the LA Memorial Coliseum, hosted by Queen Latifah and finishing with fireworks.
Hotel Figueroa
Book here if you want a trip with all the hallmarks of a great summer getaway — great location, sunny pool, scene-y onsite dining — plus some serious history that gives it something truly special. Hotel Figueroa opened 100 years ago in the summer of 1926 as a women-only hotel, conceived as a safe haven for women to meet and discuss business, art, and activism with freedom — at a time when most hotels prohibited check-in without a male chaperone.
By 1930, the hotel opened to all travelers, with its founding progressive spirit living on as it became a hub of creative expression in DTLA. Following a full restoration in 2018, the hotel stepped into the modern era while keeping unique details from its century of history throughout. The lobby lounge and café spill onto the sidewalk, the coffin-shaped pool (original from 1926) is lined with sun loungers, and several dining options pour handcrafted cocktails and plate up pasta and poolside bites.
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