Palaces of the Public

A Cultural History of Washington, DC's Hotels

John DeFerrari

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781647127312
• Subtopic: Architecture General
• Index: History

A unique look at Washington's landmark hotels and its cultural history

Any large city's marquee hotels are a great barometer of its social and cultural life. Washington DC, is exceptional in this regard, because visitors—from officials, diplomats, and lobbyists to everyday tourists—are so critical to the city's essential purpose as the nation's capital. The city's hotels have also been residences for locals and have served as important social centers, hosting events ranging from weddings and concerts to inaugural balls and the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Palaces of the Public is a lively, in-depth, highly illustrated, history and architectural tour of the city's hotels, past and present. John DeFerrari explores the fascinating evolution of hostelries, from the taverns of the eighteenth century, to the boarding houses of the pre–Civil War era, to the creation of the modern hotel. Special chapters address the history of hotels for women, tourist hotels, and hotels run by and for African Americans in the days of segregation. Later chapters highlight the rise of motels in the mid–twentieth century, boutique hotels in recent years, and the impact of historic preservation on saving old hotel buildings.

Readers interested in Washington's history, architecture, and historic preservation will be drawn to this book, with its unique perspective on how the city's culture and society developed over time.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: The Many Faces of Hospitality in the Nation’s Capital
• 1. Eighteenth-Century Taverns and Boardinghouses
• 2. Hotels of the Antebellum and Civil War Eras
• 3. Gilded Age Palaces for the Capital of a World Power
• 4. Grand Hotels of the Early Twentieth Century
• 5. Washington’s Tourist Hotels Cater to an Evolving Trade
• 6. African American Hotels and Community Pride
• 7. The Rise and Fall of Women’s Hotels
• 8. DC Hotels from World War II to the Twenty-First Century
• Conclusion: Hotels of the Nation’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century
• Notes
• Selected Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author