The year 1926 was a golden era of ambition, architecture, and unparalleled glamour. It was the height of the Roaring Twenties. A time defined by the rhythm of jazz, the boom of travel, and the rise of architectural masterpieces that redefined luxury.
Fast forward to 2026, and a select group of legendary properties are officially entering the century club. Surviving economic downturns, world conflicts, and ever-changing design trends, these hotels have remained steadfast anchors of their communities. From coastal retreats and desert oases to towering downtown landmarks, we are looking back at the timeless properties celebrating 100 years of impeccable hospitality.
Pack your bags and step back in time as we explore the ultimate centennial class of 1926.
21c Museum Hotel St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)
Originally opened in 1926 as a prominent 10-story YMCA building in downtown St. Louis. Now operating under Accor’s 21c Museum Hotels brand, it beautifully blends its preserved Renaissance Revival architectural details with contemporary art galleries and boutique accommodations.
Benbow Inn (Garberville, California)
Nestled in the heart of the redwood forests, the Benbow Inn opened in 1926 as a premiere destination along the newly completed Redwood Highway. This elegant, Tudor-style independent resort quickly became a favored playground for Hollywood elite and continues to offer timeless Old World charm. We wrote an in depth piece on the Benbow Inn you can read here.
Best Western Mariemont Inn (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Built in 1926, this picturesque Tudor-style inn is an architectural anchor of Mariemont, one of the first planned communities in the United States. Merging classic English charm with modern hospitality under the Best Western banner, the property features beautiful timber framing and historic fireplaces.
Colony Hotel & Cabana Club (Delray Beach, Florida)
A jewel of Mediterranean Revival architecture, the Colony Hotel has been a downtown Delray Beach landmark since its doors swung open in 1926. This independent hotel features its original 1920s elevator and hand-crafted furniture, offering visitors an authentic, nostalgic slice of Florida’s golden boom era.
Fairmont Breakers Long Beach (Long Beach, California)
Opening in 1926 as the lavish Breakers Hotel, this oceanfront icon has long been central to Southern California’s coastal high society. Following an extensive and meticulous modern restoration, the historic property enters its second century operating as a luxury Fairmont hotel.
Harbor Court Hotel (San Francisco, California)
Originally constructed in 1926 as the grand Army/Navy YMCA along San Francisco’s bustling waterfront, this building originally served military personnel arriving at the Embarcadero. It has since been transformed into an independent boutique hotel, offering sleek accommodations and stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
Historic Americus Hotel (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
The Americus Hotel opened in 1926 as a symbol of Allentown’s industrial prosperity. Designed with breathtaking Spanish Renaissance architecture, this Wyndham property features a soaring mezzanine and grand ballroom that have hosted generations of gala events.
Hotel Casa del Mar (Santa Monica, California)
Launched in 1926 as an ultra-exclusive beach club for the era’s wealthy and influential, Club Casa del Mar was the height of Roaring Twenties glamour. Now part of the Preferred Hotels portfolio, this grand oceanfront Renaissance Revival building offers guests direct beach access paired with an opulent, timeless coastal atmosphere.
Hotel Ändra Seattle (Seattle, Washington)
Originally constructed in 1926 during Seattle’s post-World War I urban expansion, this property began its life as a transfer and storage building before evolving into a stylish hotel. Today, under Accor’s MGallery Collection, it sophisticatedly marries its historic brick roots with warm Scandinavian design.
Hôtel Paris Bastille Boutet (Paris, France)
This historic international property originally opened in 1926 as a wood manufacturing workshop and later transitioned into the famous Maison Boutet chocolate factory. Now converted into a luxurious Accor boutique hotel, it proudly retains its signature 1920s industrial art deco facade.
Inn on Boltwood (Amherst, Massachusetts)
Known for decades as the Lord Jeffery Inn, this classic New England property opened in 1926 to serve Amherst College and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. Today, the independent inn masterfully respects its nearly 100-year heritage while championing modern sustainability and silver-level LEED eco-friendly practices.
InterContinental Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Indiana)
The foundation of this property dates back to 1926 with the construction of the historic Illinois Building, a cornerstone of downtown Indianapolis architecture. It has been stunningly transformed into a luxury InterContinental hotel, celebrating its 100-year-old structural legacy with sleek, modern upgrades.
InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel (San Francisco, California)
Sitting majestically atop Nob Hill, the Mark Hopkins opened in December 1926 on the site of the former Mark Hopkins mansion. Celebrated for its striking combination of French Renaissance and Spanish Revival architecture, this world-renowned IHG hotel is legendary for its top-floor lounge, “Top of the Mark”.
InterContinental New York Barclay (New York, New York)
Debuting in 1926 during New York’s grand railroad expansion era, The Barclay was built to provide sophisticated, long-term residential luxury for travelers arriving at Grand Central. Today, this IHG property stands as a hallmark of classic New York style, combining its original Federalist architecture with sustainable luxury practices.
La Concha Hotel & Spa (Key West, Florida)
Rising as the tallest building in Old Town Key West when it opened in 1926, La Concha was designed to be a luxury oasis for the island’s burgeoning tourism industry. This Marriott-branded landmark boasts a rich literary history, having hosted famous authors like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.
La Valencia Hotel (La Jolla/San Diego, California)
Affectionately known as “The Pink Lady of La Jolla,” La Valencia opened in 1926 as a glamorous retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, hand-painted murals, and dramatic ocean views quickly turned this Preferred Hotels property into a beloved hideaway for Hollywood icons.
Omni Berkshire Place (New York, New York)
Designed by Warren & Wetmore—the legendary architectural firm behind Grand Central Terminal—this Midtown Manhattan hotel opened in 1926. It quickly established itself as a beacon of residential-style elegance and served as a creative incubator for American theater; playwright Edward Albee famously wrote his masterpiece Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? while in residence here.
Omni San Francisco (San Francisco, California)
Originally constructed in 1926 as the Financial Center Building, this structure is a masterclass in Florentine-Italian Renaissance style. Following a comprehensive restoration that preserved its elaborate bank vaults and rich marble work, it now welcomes luxury travelers as a premier Omni property.
Sofia Hotel (San Diego, California)
Originally opening in 1926 as the Pickwick Hotel, this downtown fixture served as a bustling transportation hub and prominent hotel during San Diego’s early mid-century growth. Now operating independently as the Sofia Hotel, the building has been reimagined into a peaceful, wellness-focused boutique hotel while keeping its historic exterior intact.
The Hotel Viking (Newport, Rhode Island)
Built in 1926 through a community-backed effort to provide Newport with its first true luxury hotel for elite summer guests, The Hotel Viking is deeply interwoven with Rhode Island high society. This historic independent landmark continues to embody Gilded Age grandeur and nautical prestige.
The Inn at Death Valley (Death Valley, California)
Built in 1926 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company, this property was a bold engineering feat that turned a rugged desert landscape into a lush, spring-fed resort oasis. Now part of the Xanterra Travel Collection, this historic inn has hosted Old Hollywood legends looking to escape the spotlight and remains a premier luxury retreat.
The Queensbury Hotel (Glens Falls, New York)
Named in honor of Queen Charlotte, The Queensbury opened in 1926 to serve as a community centerpiece and a grand gateway to the Adirondack Mountains. This independent hotel has spent the last century hosting presidents, musicians, and local celebrations, preserving its classic 1920s elegance through a series of modern updates.
The St. Regis Washington DC (Washington, D.C.)
Located just two blocks from the White House, this legendary hotel opened in 1926 as The Carlton Hotel. Designed by famed architect Mihran Mesrobian in a mix of Italian Renaissance and Beaux-Arts styles, this Marriott luxury property has spent a century serving as the preferred residence for royalty, world leaders, and American presidents.