Angie Walls
(photo by hopshomemade from iStockPhoto)
Published in Too Shy to Stop Magazine, September 27, 2008

All year long, Washington, DC welcomes millions of American and foreign visitors with open arms. A city of power and at the very heart of America’s grand heritage, it contains stories of its glorious past all over – from Capitol Hill down to the national mall and museums, and scattered in many of its distinctive and charming neighborhoods.

Standing tall among 200 time-honored hotels across the U.S., Washington’s hotels continue to celebrate the past by faithfully upholding their original architecture, and also a unique sense of place and identity in the 208-year-old national capital. Travelers can come to Washington, DC and become part of the destination through a luxurious stay that celebrates history at the city’s greatest hotels.

Celebrate your American heritage with the heart-warming hospitality and authentic surroundings that will take you back in time at some of DC’s historic hotels:

The Churchill Hotel is a luxury apartment complex, featuring its original French-inspired Beaux Arts architecture from 1906, nestled along Embassy Row on the fashionable Connecticut Avenue. This grand hotel has been the home of countless diplomats, dignitaries, and politicians for the past 100 years. As you step foot in the lobby, the authentic setting of elegant marble floors, ornate walls with Renaissance décor, and gold-plated chandelier will steal your breath away.

The Hamilton Crowne Plaza preserves its former glory from the ‘30s and ‘40s – once the special scene for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural ball and Hollywood’s singing cowboy Gene Autry and his horse, Champion – on historic Franklin Square. The 11-story hotel displays a touch of traditional class and eclectic designs in its stately archway and ceiling domes.

Or experience the Henley Park Hotel, built in the traditional design of the Tudor-style mansions of England, which dates back the grand era during World War I. Find an astounding facade of stained-glass windows and 119 gargoyle faces gazing down on the people passing by. Inside, the hotel’s 96 rooms create a unique identity combining Old World Europe with the heart of America.

During my first two years here, I had the distinct pleasure of working next door to the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, which was, without a doubt, one of the hottest taxi spots in the city. Why? Proudly called the “Grande Dame” of Washington, DC, this is the most glamorous hotel boasting more gold than any other building in the country except for the Library of Congress. Just a few short blocks from the White House, it has been the center stage for the nation’s most prominent occasions – including every U.S. Presidential inaugural ball since Calvin Coolidge. One of the Mayflower’s most historic treasures is the 25-foot skylight and large murals by artist Edward Lanning tracing back to World War II, which were just discovered in the 1990s.