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To be selected for membership in Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or has been listed in or is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Visit HistoricHotels.org to learn more and sign up to receive Discover & Explore to stay up to date on news and specials from Historic Hotels of America.
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River Street Inn (1817)
Savannah, Georgia
Set within a beautifully restored, 200-year-old riverside warehouse in Savannah, Georgia, and overlooking the enchanting Savannah River on historic River Street, the River Street Inn provides both interior and exterior filming locations for filmmakers who want to frame their subjects in historic, charming, and unique locations. Established in 1817, River Street Inn is part of the Savannah Historic District, which was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1966 and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1999. Considering the historic nature of downtown Savannah, with its waterfront and Factors Walk, it is not surprising that the film industry often chooses this area for movie and television productions. Many major motion pictures, and films made for television, were filmed at the River Street Inn, and the inn has served as an icon in the background of several films. Robert Downey Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Liam Hemsworth, and Tim Daly are just a few of the leading actors that have walked through the corridors of this iconic hotel or have filmed immediately outside its doors. Movies filmed at the inn or within the surrounding block include The Gingerbread Man (1998), The Do-Over (2016), Lady and the Tramp (2019), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), and Academy Award-winning film Glory (1989). In Lady and the Tramp (2019), the famous spaghetti date scene was filmed on the exterior southwest corner of the River Street Inn. Additionally, during a scene where the two dogs stroll through a market, this location is really the River Street Inn’s valet parking lot. River Street Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1999 and dates to 1817.

Omni Royal Orleans (1843)
New Orleans, Louisiana
When James Bond (Roger Moore) escapes from the villain Mr. Big in Live and Let Die (1973), Bond tells his team to regroup at the Omni Royal Orleans in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. (“Royal Orleans hotel,” Bond tells the cab driver after arriving at the airport.) Located at the fashionable intersection of St. Louis Street and Royal Street, Omni Royal Orleans exudes the class and elegance that James Bond would choose for his stay in the Crescent City. Omni Royal Orleans was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2010 and dates to 1843. The historic hotel appears in many popular contemporary television programs, in addition to a few films: NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), Your Honor (2020-2023), Queer as Folk (2022), Interview with the Vampire (2022), and Daisy Jones & the Six (2023). Movies and television shows have been filmed at the rooftop pool area, Rib Room restaurant, the hotel’s ballrooms, Royal Garden Terrace and Courtyard, and various suites. These locations are all available for guests to visit, book, or reserve. Cast and crew have stayed the night at the Omni Royal New Orleans, and guests can request to stay in a guestroom once occupied by one of the many stars who have stayed at this historic hotel.

The Peabody Memphis (1869)
Memphis, Tennessee
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the original Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, opened in 1869 as a symbol of the wealth and prestige of the growing city. Its grandeur, both in size and in richness of design, have made it a desirable filming location in the region. Three film adaptations of John Grisham novels have been filmed at The Peabody Memphis: The Firm (1993), The Client (1994), and The Rainmaker (1997). The Peabody Memphis served as the setting for several scenes in The Firm, starring Tom Cruise. The most memorable scene involves a lavish party on the hotel’s rooftop in which Mitch McDeere (Cruise) is persuaded to accept a job at a Memphis law firm. The Peabody’s fine dining restaurant, Chez Philippe, is the setting for a scene in The Client, in which Tommy Lee Jones’s character, District Attorney “Reverend” Roy Foltrigg is dining with FBI agents at the restaurant’s best table, and a fan asks for his autograph. The Peabody’s historic Continental Ballroom appears in The Rainmaker as the room in which Matt Damon’s character takes the bar exam. The Peabody Memphis is also known for lighthearted moments in film, often due to its charming signature tradition of timed displays of live ducks promenading through the lobby, an event called the Peabody Duck March. The hotel’s duck march has appeared on screen in the comedy Soul Men (2008), starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, and The Open Road (2009), starring Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges. The Peabody Ducks have also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992), and on Sesame Street, when Bert and Ernie celebrated Rubber Ducky Day. The Peabody Memphis was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996 and dates to 1869.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (1876)
Riverside, California
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California, has attracted filmmakers for over a century with its ornate architectural features, including castle-like towers, Mediterranean-style domes, flying buttresses, and sprawling arcades. A member of Historic Hotels of America since 1996 and designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1977, this historic hotel dates to 1876 and has been expanded several times since its original construction. The six-story tall resort resembles a Colonial-era, Spanish Mission-style fortress, with thick stucco walls, heavy carved doors, spiraled columns, and red-tile gable roofs. The ornate central lobby leads to rooms with wood paneling imported directly from a Belgian convent, and a grand, art-decked hall with a draped canopied ceiling. The richness and drama of the space made it a fitting setting for movies like The Vampire (1915), a silent film; Idiot’s Delight (1939) starring Clark Gable; The Wild Party (1975), produced by Merchant Ivory Productions, and starring James Coco and Raquel Welch; Vibes (1988) starring Jeff Goldblum; a special two-part “Exodus” episode of science fiction and fantasy show Sliders (1997); and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), a period drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1982, singer Eddie Money filmed a vampire lore-inspired music video for his song, “Think I’m in Love,” at The Mission Inn. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996 and dates to 1876.

The Jefferson Hotel (1895)
Richmond, Virginia
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, The Jefferson Hotel has a long, illustrious history as a cultural landmark and Grand Dame in Richmond, Virginia, since it opened its doors on Halloween 1895. Despite its fame and architectural grandeur, the hotel was forced to close its doors in the 1980s and welcomed no guests for about six years. Its story does not pause there, however, because film history was made at The Jefferson Hotel even when its guestrooms were empty. In 1980, filmmakers selected the hotel to serve as the set for My Dinner with Andre (1981), a critically acclaimed art house classic. Director Louis Malle shot the famous scripted conversation between actors André Gregory and Wallace Shawn–playing versions of themselves–in the Grand Ballroom, which was transformed for the film to look like Café des Artistes in New York City. After the filmmakers left, the hotel underwent an extensive renovation and reopened on May 6, 1986. The Jefferson Hotel was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America in 1989 and dates to 1895.

Jekyll Island Club Resort (1887)
Jekyll Island, Georgia
The historic Jekyll Island Club Resort is an iconic resort that exudes Gilded Age glamour and modern luxury. Part of a National Historic Landmark District designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and nestled on a barrier island off the Georgia coast, Jekyll Island Club Resort opened in 1887 as a retreat for America’s wealthiest families. From the lofty tower to the encircling verandas and original heart pine floors, Victorian-era charm still permeates the public areas and rooms throughout the resort. These architectural details have enabled the resort to serve as a backdrop for several period films, including The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), directed by Robert Redford and starring Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron. Fans of Robert Redford’s film can dine in the Grand Dining Room like the characters in the movie, or stroll across the front lawn, which was also used during filming. Redford and the scenic directors chose the resort’s pool as the perfect location for one scene; they covered up the pool and transformed it into an outdoor dance floor. The most popular spot from the film at the resort is a replica of the watering hole enjoyed by Matt Damon. The Alexander Bar & Boar’s Head Lounge, located in the Riverfront Lobby just outside of the Grand Dining Room, offers guests a chance to pull up to the counter or to enjoy their libation from the comfort of the leather chairs perched in front of the grand fireplace. Guests of the resort can venture to the Jekyll Island Golf Club and tee off on the same course depicted in the film. Jekyll Island Club Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994.

Union League Club of Chicago (1886)
Chicago, Illinois
A Georgian Revival-style downtown landmark, the historic Union League Club of Chicago is a stately and sophisticated social club and hotel that dates to 1886. Its rich, opulent interior spaces have served as filming locations for films including My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), and television shows such as Empire (2015-2020). The Union League Club of Chicago and the Empire production team developed a close relationship during their time filming at the club. The historic hotel costarred in scenes with Phylicia Rashad, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, and Taye Diggs. The Empire production crew transformed the hotel’s Presidents Hall into a large conference room and used the Lincoln Ballroom for an elegant gala. My Best Friend’s Wedding also filmed a scene in the hotel’s Presidents Hall, a desirable filming location because of its towering wood pillars, wide coffered ceiling, beautiful artwork, and fireplace. After filming, the movie crew left the furniture it had installed for the set. Although the furniture has been reupholstered, the same design was used, and the pieces remain in the Presidents Hall to this day. The PBS genealogy show Finding Your Roots (2012-), hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., used the Lincoln Ballroom to interview the musician Sting. Sting’s only request during his time at the club was an electric tea kettle. The Union League Club of Chicago still has the electric tea kettle that the staff purchased for him, and the staff refer to it as “Sting’s Kettle.” Visitors can request a clubhouse tour to learn more about the history of the building. The Union League Club of Chicago was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2021.

Grand Hotel (1887)
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Grand Hotel has been an iconic summer resort since 1887, and a film icon since 1980. Part of a National Historic Landmark District designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the hotel is located on Mackinac Island, Michigan, where cars are not allowed, and horse-drawn carriages remain the preferred mode of transportation. Adding to its romantic appeal, this Gilded Age resort is often synonymous with the film Somewhere in Time (1980). Starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer, this time-travel romance was filmed on location. The filmmakers not only took advantage of the hotel’s sweeping views and Victorian-era exteriors, but they shot much of Somewhere in Time inside the Grand Hotel. The movie became a cult classic over the subsequent decades and still claims a following to this day. In fact, Somewhere in Time fans meet annually at the Grand Hotel in October. For a truly immersive experience, the Grand Hotel has two suites dedicated to the film: the Somewhere in Time Suite and the Jane Seymour Suite. Both suites are decorated with memorabilia from the movie. The resort also offers a special Somewhere in Time Weekend package. Visitors to the island can also visit the Somewhere in Time Gazebo, a romantic Queen Anne-style gazebo featured in the film, located in the state park east of Fort Mackinac. Grand Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2001.

Hotel del Coronado (1888)
San Diego, California
The iconic seaside resort of Hotel del Coronado—with its elegant red cupolas and towers—opened in 1888. Its founders dreamed of creating a seaside resort that would be “the talk of the Western world” and it has, perhaps even beyond their wildest dreams. In 1958, the hit movie sensation, Some Like It Hot (1959), was filmed at Hotel del Coronado. The film showcased the talents of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, while also highlighting the hotel’s striking architecture and spectacular setting: the spectacular sun-drenched silhouette of the resort’s Victorian-style architecture served as the perfect backdrop for the film’s 1929 setting. The classic comedy is the humorous story of two musicians who attempted to flee the Chicago Outfit after witnessing the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Many film critics consider Some Like It Hot to be one of the greatest films of all time, and it was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 1989. Named the #1 comedy of all time by the American Film Institute, the movie has an honored place in both film and Del history. Although only exterior scenes were filmed at the historic hotel, the interior scenes look very much like the Hotel del Coronado, right down to the placement of the lobby elevator and stairs. Hotel del Coronado was designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark in 1977, was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2007.

White Stallion Ranch (1900)
Tucson, Arizona
White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, has been the setting for over 25 feature-length films, many of which are Westerns that were made between 1940 and 1970. The ranch began as a family farm in 1900 and 116 years later, in 2016, it was inducted into Historic Hotels of America. Its star apparently rose around the time that the Academy Award-nominated film Arizona (1940) shot scenes at the ranch in 1940. A new owner acquired the ranch in 1945 with a dream of relocating from Chicago to Arizona’s warm desert climate. The farm experienced a cultural renaissance during its time under the new owner, who constructed six new buildings so that the ranch could be outfitted for receiving guests. As such, the cattle ranch took its first steps toward operating as a traditional, luxury resort. The success of Arizona, and the ranch’s growing amenities for guests, attracted more Hollywood producers to use the site to film various aspects of their movies. Among the films shot within the vicinity of the ranch during this era of classic Westerns were The Last Round-Up (1947) starring Gene Autry; Winchester ‘73 (1950) starring James Stewart, and later selected for the National Film Registry by the National Film Preservation Board; and The Last Outpost (1951) starring Ronald Regan and Rhonda Fleming. The ranch’s true metamorphosis into a vacation destination occurred in the 1960s. Allen and Cynthia True purchased the ranch in 1965 and developed it, acquiring 3,000 acres of land and building additional facilities to accommodate guests. Its popularity soared, and for decades, the historic, family-owned, dude ranch continues to catch the eye of movie producers and location scouts into the 21st century. White Stallion Ranch was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016.

Fairmont San Francisco (1907)
San Francisco, California
Since it opened in 1907, The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco has hosted U.S. presidents, world leaders, and entertainment stars when the stayed in San Francisco. The landmark historic hotel is also known for setting the scene for numerous films and television shows for more than 85 years. The Academy Award-winning film Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938)—the highest-grossing film for 20th Century Fox at the time of its release—was filmed at The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, and more recent films like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) have been filmed at the hotel as well. Other notable films include Vertigo (1958), The Towering Inferno (1974), and The Rock (1996). Vertigo (1958), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was filmed in the heart of San Francisco, where the characters were residents in an apartment building across from The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco. Alfred Hitchcock stayed at the hotel during the film production. In the early 1970s, the Academy Award-winning film The Towering Inferno (1974) filmed scenes at The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco. The Rock (1996) features a thrilling scene filmed on the hotel’s iconic Penthouse Suite balcony, and the ensuing chase scene goes down the hotel escalators and into the hotel’s main kitchen. The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2001.

The Plaza (1907)
New York, New York
Designed in a style reminiscent of a French chateau, and located just off Central Park in New York City, The Plaza’s imposing exterior and opulent interior spaces have captivated the imaginations of guests and moviegoers for years. In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller North By Northwest marked the first time that The Plaza was prominently featured on the silver screen. It is from this historic hotel that the movie’s hero, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), is kidnapped. In The Way We Were (1973), Barbra Streisand’s character meets Robert Redford’s character by chance at the Fifth Avenue entrance of The Plaza. The Plaza’s place in popular culture was bolstered through Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992), when the opulence of the location and the lofty standards of the luxury hotel made it the ideal location for abandoned scamp Kevin McCallister to check-in to the historic hotel with his dad’s credit card. The 59th Street lobby and Suite No. 411 are key locations in The Plaza that are shown in the film. Paying homage to the film and its fans, The Plaza offers a package that recreates a day in the life of Kevin McCallister at The Plaza. The package comes with a private limousine ride around New York City to visit other famous Home Alone 2 filming locations, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and Radio City Music Hall. Of course, no limousine ride would be complete without a hot cheese pizza to savor while reliving Kevin’s famous limo pizza scene. During the filming of Home Alone 2, the film crew asked what was under the lobby carpeting, because they wanted to film a scene of Kevin sliding through the lobby. When the carpet was removed, the hotel discovered original tiling dating to 1907, which now remains uncovered. Established in 1907, The Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1986 and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991.

Fairmont Copley Plaza (1912)
Boston, Massachusetts
Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, is a historic Renaissance Revival-style luxury hotel with a rich history of costarring in major motion pictures. The historic hotel is a recognizable setting featured in the cult classic The Boondock Saints (1999), Bride Wars (2009), Academy Award-nominated American Hustle (2013), Academy Award-winning Little Women (2019), Julia (2022-2023), and Academy Award-nominated Don’t Look Up (2021). In Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Grand Ballroom set the scene for an opulent French ball attended by Amy March (Florence Pugh) and Laurie (Timothée Chalamet). For its role in the film, Fairmont Copley Plaza is included in a Little Women film tourism map created by the Massachusetts Film Office. At the end of Don’t Look Up, directed by Adam McKay, the hotel’s OAK Long Bar + Kitchen was chosen for a scene toward the end of the film, where Cate Blanchett’s and Tyler Perry’s characters lament the end of the world in a ransacked, empty restaurant. The scene was an extensive takeover of the entire restaurant, and the film production used all of OAK’s furniture, which can be seen in the movie. Finally, the hotel has “played” two other historic Fairmont hotels also included on this list. In Julia, Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Presidential Suite was the filming location for Julia Child’s guestroom at The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco. In Bride Wars, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson play childhood best friends who grew up dreaming of having their respective weddings at The Plaza in New York, but the movie was actually filmed at Fairmont Copley Plaza. The Plaza is a sister hotel to Fairmont Copley Plaza, as both hotels are managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and both hotels were designed by the same architect: Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. Fairmont Copley Plaza was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America in 1989 and dates to 1912.

Omni William Penn (1916)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
With its blend of classic elegance and modern sophistication, Omni William Penn has served as Pittsburgh’s premier hotel since 1916. In 1947, legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille premiered his movie Unconquered (1947) in the hotel’s Urban Room, which starred Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard. During the premiere party, an ice carving of a bathtub was created, and DeMille asked the hotel’s head of maintenance to design something that could produce bubbles to enhance the display. The maintenance team member created what became known as the “bubble machine,” which was later adopted by big band leader Lawrence Welk to enhance his performances, earning his band the nickname “The Champagne Music Makers.” This iconic bubble machine is still proudly displayed at the hotel today, serving as a reminder of its rich history in both film and television. Since then, several notable films and television shows have been filmed at the hotel, making it a memorable location for movie and television buffs. Its most lauded claim to Hollywood history was by serving as a production office and filming location for The Silence of the Lambs (1991). In the movie, the scene where Hannibal Lecter is held in a cage before he escapes custody was filmed in one of the hotel’s spacious meeting rooms. Omni William Penn has also appeared in Love & Other Drugs (2010), Foxcatcher (2014), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Southpaw (2015). A memorable scene from Southpaw, where Rachel McAdams’s character is shot, was filmed in the hotel’s main lobby, adding an intense, dramatic moment to the grand and historic setting. Omni William Penn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2010 and dates to 1916.

OHEKA CASTLE (1919)
Huntington, New York
The grand, historic OHEKA CASTLE appeared as the palatial Xanadu estate in the opening montage of the film Citizen Kane (1941). Considered by critics to be one of the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane was produced, directed, and co-written by its starring actor, Orson Welles. Xanadu in Citizen Kane is located in Florida, but OHEKA CASTLE is nestled in Huntington, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore. It is not difficult to see how OHEKA CASTLE caught Welles’s attention: built by financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn in 1919, The New York Times declared it, “the finest country house in America.” During the Roaring Twenties, the estate entertained Hollywood luminaries, esteemed heads of state, and distinguished royalty. The chateau remains the second-largest private residence ever built in the United States and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2004. Today, OHEKA CASTLE’s stunning European style, dramatic surroundings, and proximity to New York City continue to make the estate a popular backdrop for professional film, television, video, and still photography productions. OHEKA CASTLE has appeared in the music videos for “Haunted” (2013) by Beyoncé, “Brokenhearted” (1994) by Brandy, and “Blank Space” (2014) by Taylor Swift. Recently, it portrayed a Hungarian castle in the second season of Succession (2018-2023). OHEKA CASTLE was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Hawthorne Hotel (1925)
Salem, Massachusetts
In 1970, the cast and crew of Bewitched (1964-1972) stayed at the historic Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts, while filming scenes for the classic television show’s special episode “Bewitched: The Salem Saga” (1970). Local landmarks featured in the television special include The House of the Seven Gables, The Witch House, and the Fisherman Statue. The historic hotel’s exterior and interior appeared in the show, too: in the background of Salem Common, and in a scene filmed by the hotel elevators. For years after it aired, the hotel was flooded with calls asking if it was the “Bewitched Hotel.” Hawthorne Hotel is often ranked as one of the most haunted hotels in America, and its folklore was recently featured in The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels list. Guests have reported moving furniture, sightings of a ghostly woman, and unexplained noises. In 2007, Syfy’s popular paranormal show, Ghost Hunters (2004-2016), visited the hotel to investigate. More recently, actors Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper filmed scenes at the hotel for their movie Joy (2015). The beautifully restored, stately Federal-style hotel opened in 1925, and is named for the author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who spent his childhood in Salem. Hawthorne Hotel is located in the Salem Common Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hawthorne Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991 and dates to 1925.

The Inn at Death Valley (1926)
Death Valley, California
Death Valley National Park in California has been a popular filmmaking destination since Cecil B. DeMille directed the silent film Chimmie Fadden Out West (1915) on location in Death Valley in 1915. Located about five hours from Los Angeles, California, Death Valley National Park is easily accessible to the major film studios and provides one of the most unique desert landscapes in the world. Located inside the park, The Inn at Death Valley opened in 1926, and the inn has hosted filmmakers, cast, and crew, as well as guests seeking a unique resort vacation destination, for nearly a century. Guests can experience fine dining in one of the world’s most remote settings, relax by a spring-fed pool, stroll through spectacular palm gardens, and play a round on the golf course, which is a record 214 feet below sea level. Many actors—including Bette Davis, John Wayne, and Marlon Brando—enjoyed staying at the resort so much that they went back after filming ended. Indeed, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent a portion of their honeymoon at the resort. In the 1970s and 1980s, while filming the original Star Wars trilogy at Death Valley National Park, some cast members stayed at The Inn at Death Valley. Non-human actor Mardji the elephant, who played a “Bantha,” a fictional desert beast in the Star Wars universe, made the nearby oasis gardens her home during filming. The historic inn appears in the films The Lively Set (1964) and Winter Kills (1979). The Inn at Death Valley was most recently seen on the Silver Screen as a location for Valley of Love (2015), a French film starring Gérard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert. The Inn at Death Vally was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1999.

Hilton Chicago (1927)
Chicago, Illinois
Hilton Chicago is a Chicago landmark–the city’s third-largest hotel–overlooking Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and the Museum Campus. Opening in 1927, the hotel has appeared as the backdrop to countless prominent films and television shows. Hilton Chicago appears in My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), Road to Perdition (2002), and The Fugitive (1993), as well as ER (1994-2009), in which the Hilton Chicago helipad portrayed the hospital helipad. In The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joe Pantoliano, Hilton Chicago’s plush Grand Ballroom played an important role in the tense climax of the film. Perhaps the most beloved scene captured at the Hilton Chicago is the end of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), when Kevin McCallister is reunited with his family after his solo adventure in the Big Apple. The New York hotel suite portrayed in the film is actually the Conrad Suite of the Hilton Chicago. It is one of the hotel’s thirteen specialty suites, and nicknamed the “Midwest White House,” given the number of presidents who have spent time in this suite. Visitors are welcome to learn more about Hilton Chicago’s film and television history in the hotel’s history corridor, where a reel clip station is set up to show the hotel’s starring roles. Hilton Chicago was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2015.

The Hollywood Roosevelt (1927)
Los Angeles, California
As one of the most historic hotels in Los Angeles, California, The Hollywood Roosevelt has seen decades of famous faces. In 1929, the hotel was the location of the very first awards ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—also known as the Academy Awards® or the Oscars®—hosted by Douglas Fairbanks in the hotel’s Blossom Room and attended by the “who’s who” of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Ever since, this historic hotel has welcomed entertainment icons, from Shirley Temple to Angelina Jolie. Today, the hotel still buzzes with industry executives and talent alike and it remains a popular destination for locals and tourists from around the world. One hit movie that was filmed at the hotel is the biographical crime film Catch Me If You Can (2002), directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, with Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Nathalie Baye. In the film, the hotel’s Tropicana Pool was turned into the Tropicana Motel. The production rented out the entire pool area, the stairway at the entrance to the pool, Rosy Café, and Cabana Room 208. Today, guests can visit all of these filming locations. Other popular movies filmed at The Hollywood Roosevelt include A Star Is Born (2018) with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga; Almost Famous (2000); and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), starring Eddie Murphy. Television shows with scenes filmed at The Hollywood Roosevelt include Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024), I Love Lucy (1951-1957), and many more. The Hollywood Roosevelt was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016 and dates to 1927.

The Don CeSar (1928)
St. Pete Beach, Florida
built in 1928 to resemble a Mediterranean-style castle and affectionately called the “Pink Palace,” The Don CeSar of St. Pete Beach, Florida, is a classic resort with unforgettable architecture and private beach. Popular films that shot scenes at The Don CeSar include HealtH (1980) starring Lauren Bacall, Carol Burnett, and James Garner; Once Upon a Time in America (1984) starring Robert DeNiro and James Woods; Forever Mine (1999) starring Ray Liotta; and The Infiltrator (2016) starring Bryan Cranston. These movies made great use of the historic hotel’s preserved and restored settings: the private beach, stunning lobby, restaurants and bars, pools, and guestrooms—all of which are available for visitors to drop by or book today. Additionally, the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers worked with the hotel and MTV to film a music video on the hotel roof in 1985. The footage showing the band with the iconic hotel in the background was used in the MTV documentary Southern Accents (1985). Today, visitors can learn more about films made at The Don CeSar by stopping at a display near its restaurant, Society Table. The Don Cesar was inducted into Historic Hotels of America as a Charter Member in 1989.

Hotel Warner (1930)
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Hotel Warner has been one of West Chester, Pennsylvania’s most celebrated historic buildings since it opened as a movie theater in 1930. In fact, this spectacular historic hotel is among the few historic movie theaters listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Before its transformation into a historic hotel, the building served as the magnificent Warner Theater. In the late 1920s, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Warner Bros. Pictures selected West Chester, Pennsylvania, to be the location for its own opulent 1,650-seat venue. The theater was designed by the architectural firm Rapp and Rapp of Chicago, one of the leading designers of palatial movie theaters in the early-20th century. Their work on the Warner Theater—also known as the High Street Theater and the “Showplace of Chester County”—included the theater, as well as a restaurant and a series of small stores. The brilliant Warner Theater opened in 1930 with a screening of The Life of the Party (1930), a Technicolor comedy starring Winnie Lightner. Child star Davey Lee even made a personal appearance on opening night and sang and danced on the stage. When its days as a movie theater ended in the 1970s, developers renovated the Warner Theater to host live entertainment events. Nevertheless, the theater eventually closed in 1984. The façade and lobby were preserved and saved from demolition, and the building was transformed into a historic hotel, with a new tower added that complemented the theater’s historic design. Centrally located within walking distance of restaurants, sidewalk cafés, brewpubs, and eclectic shops, Hotel Warner is the only full-service hotel in West Chester’s historic downtown. Visitors can enjoy a stroll through the historic streets and discover the rich architecture and vibrant past of this nationally acclaimed neighborhood. Hotel Warner was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016.

The Lodge at Wakulla Springs (1937)
Wakulla Springs, Florida
Since opening in 1937, filmmakers have flocked to The Lodge at Wakulla Springs in Wakulla Springs, Florida, to take advantage of its lush natural surroundings and clear spring waters, as well as its luxury resort amenities. In 1939, the lodge’s owner hired famed swimming coach Newton “Newt” Perry to serve as the hotel’s general manager. Perry was a Hollywood insider, having served as a consultant for on-location water scenes for many years. He had pioneered a groundbreaking method for filming underwater, which inspired many up-and-coming filmmakers to seek out his expertise. Perry used his connections in the movie industry to attract all kinds of upscale clientele to the lodge. The filmmakers he attracted began to use both the hotel and its surroundings as the setting for various films, starting with Richard Thorpe’s Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) in 1941. Starring Olympic- swimmer Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan, and the iconic Maureen O’Sullivan as Jane, the movie established The Lodge at Wakulla Springs as a desirable shooting location for film productions. Eight more films were shot in the area, including the likes of Academy Award-winning short film Amphibious Fighters (1943) and Night Moves (1975). Director Jack Arnold also filmed portions of the legendary Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) on location, filming the movie’s tropical scenes in the Wakulla Springs area. All underwater shots featured in the movie Airport ‘77 (1977) were staged just beyond the lodge’s front door. The film crew even erected a partial replica of a submerged passenger jet on the grounds. Parts of the jet plane are still scattered around the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. In addition to these major films, independent films, documentaries, and novelty newsreel footage have used the backdrop of the lodge and springs. The Lodge at Wakulla Springs was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016.

von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort (1942)
Stowe, Vermont
The real-life von Trapp Family made famous in The Sound of Music (1965) founded the von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort in Stowe, Vermont, as their home in 1942 after fleeing Austria during World War II. The family transformed their home into a full-service lodge, which opened to guests eight years later, in 1950, and today, the von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort is a celebrated, historic four-season ski resort. Maria von Trapp’s 1949 memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, led to the creation of the musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Actress Mary Martin, who starred in the Broadway production of The Sound of Music in 1959, met with the real-life Maria at the lodge to prepare for the role. Images of Martin from her visit are on display at the lodge. When filming for the film adaptation of The Sound of Music (1965) was underway, the real-life Maria met actress Julie Andrews on set. The two met again a few years later on The Julie Andrews Hour (1972-1973) television show, where she taught Andrews to yodel. The lodge offers history tours for guests about its founding family and The Sound of Music, emphasizing the true story of how the family escaped Austria and ended up in Vermont. The lodge celebrates the family’s Alpine origins through its cuisine and décor. In 2025, in honor of 75 years serving as a resort, the lodge will offer a brand-new Maria Suite. This renovated suite is the former living quarters of Maria von Trapp, who lived at the lodge from its founding until her passing in 1987. Her descendants operate the resort to this day. The von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2024 and dates to 1942.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort (1957)
Honolulu, Hawaii
When Elvis Presley visited Hawaii between 1957 and 1967, he only stayed at the historic Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii. After Presley was discharged from the Army in 1960, he headed to Hawaii to raise money for the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and to start filming his first major motion picture, Blue Hawaii (1961). Notable filming locations at the historic hotel include the Hau Tree Bar, the pier, the main lobby entrance, and Tropics Bar & Grill. Presley and his entourage booked the entire 14th floor of the Ocean Tower (the Ali’i Tower today) at the Hilton Hawaii Village and stayed at the historic resort for over two weeks. Today, guests can book the Ali’i Oceanfront Presidential Suite, which was the suite of choice for Elvis during his visits to Hawaii. For his contribution to the war memorialization effort, the World War II Foundation dedicated a plaque to Elvis Presley at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2021. The plaque is now displayed in the Ali’i Tower lobby. In addition to Blue Hawaii, the beautiful Midcentury Modern-style resort has set the scene for hit television shows including Wheel of Fortune (1983-), Baywatch: Hawaii (1999-2001), Magnum P.I. (2018-2024), and Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2020). This historic resort is situated in a remarkable location within the stunning setting of Waikiki Beach. The resort offers filmmakers and guests alike Waikiki’s widest stretch of white sand beach, a beachfront lagoon, lush tropical gardens and waterfalls, views of Diamond Head, and romantic beachfront sunsets. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2015 and dates to 1957.

“Where else can a traveler stay in a scene from a famous movie, or put themselves into the same setting used in an iconic film, but at a historic hotel! Whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or a family vacation home movie, Historic Hotels of America provide authentic settings and locations made famous over the past century by numerous television and film stars, celebrities, directors, and producers. The unique features of historic hotels draw filmmakers to select these one-of-a-kind settings as the perfect locations to stage their art,” said Lawrence P. Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “Historic Hotels of America hotels and resorts are places where you can stay the night and be the star of your own travels.”

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About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels from across the United States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org.

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