Stately. Elegant. Enchanting. Timeless. Iconic. These are a few of the words that come to my mind when I think about what makes a special historic hotel. Another word should be gratitude. Gratitude that I live in a world where importance has been placed on ensuring the preservation of historic hotels throughout the world.

My personal journey of appreciation for these establishments began by chance. On a last minute whim, my at-the-time girlfriend and I went on a road trip to Charleston, South Carolina. We just so happened to book our lodging at the John Rutledge House Inn. Originally built in 1763 as a home it was later in 1989 opened to the public as a boutique hotel. It was a place that captivated us both from the moment on. A year later it was the place where I proposed to that same woman. And the following year it was where we had planned for our wedding to take place until a pandemic interfered.

In our pursuit of finding other places to lodge that matched that magic of the John Rutledge House we eventually became familiar with Historic Hotels Worldwide. A program from the National Trust for Historic Preservation that has the mission to recognize and celebrate the finest historic hotels around the world.

Established in 1989 with 32 charter member hotels (including the John Rutledge House), the organization has since expanded to include hotels around the globe across all non-Antarctica continents. As of 2024 that includes a total of 514 locations.

Set forth criteria to be included in this prestigious roster includes the requirements that the hotel be 75+ years old, be historically relevant, actively celebrate it’s historical nature, all while allowing guest lodging. While the standards are high, the result is that each property honors and cherishes the legacy that makes them uniquely special.

As for this humble website? Well, this is merely my space on the internet to celebrate these places that mean a lot to me and bring about their increased awareness in the hopes that we continue to preserve them for future generations to experience and associate with their own personal stories.