Classic hotels that showcase amazing architecture In an era of boutique hotels boasting high-end design and dining, it?s easy to forget how central downtown hotels were to the identities of big cities. Signifiers of growth and glamour, the grand hotels of the past became important social hubs, symbols of cities on the rise and examples of some of the most striking architecture of their day.
But sadly, throughout much of the 20th century, these grand buildings were subject to the boom and bust of the tourism industry, and the relentless push for something modern and new. Thankfully today, many older hotels are being renovated and restored to their former glory, such as the Divine Lorraine in Philadelphia, and local and national preservation organizations are battling to preserve these important parts of a city?s past. Here are some of the iconic U.S. hotels that have been lost to history.
Library of Congress

Library of Congress

The Original Waldorf-Astoria (New York City, New York)
A grand dame of the numerous forgotten or demolished Gilded Age New York hotels, this magnificent building was both an aesthetic and social innovator. Located on Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street, this complex for the upper class originally started as two separate buildings; the Waldorf opened its doors in 1893, then the Astoria debuted a few years later.
The owners decided to connect both structures, and turned the space in-between into ?Peacock A...