Historic Hotels of Arizona

From the heart of city centers to remote outposts, Arizona’s historic hotels mix colorful origin stories with creature comforts.

At the start of the 20th century, the railroad, open road and air travel brought a new kind of visitor to Arizona. The well-known and well-heeled wanted worldly comforts while still experiencing the "wild west." These days, you can still surround yourself with history during a stay at one of these restored hotels.

Connor Hotel

160 Main St
Jerome, AZ 86331

The Connor Hotel in Jerome—built in 1898 and rebuilt a year later following a fire—provided a European-style stopover for train passengers at the height of the town's copper boom. Its 12 surviving rooms above a block of retail businesses are decorated in Victorian-style furniture and wallpaper.

Hotel Weatherford

23 N Leroux St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Hotel Weatherford, aka The Weatherford Hotel, in downtown Flagstaff harks back to slower times with its wraparound balcony, rooftop spire and rooms without the distractions of televisions and phones. The 1900 hotel has 11 charmingly decorated rooms, three of which share a bathroom. Refuel or relax in the property's three restaurants with bars.

El Tovar

9 Village Loop Drive
Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023

To appeal to elite travelers to the Grand Canyon, El Tovar was built in 1905 to look like a Swiss chalet or Norwegian villa. It existed before the Grand Canyon National Park was established, built as a Harvey House to serve visitors coming by train. Today, the hotel, with its 78 distinctive rooms and its rustic, mural-clad dining room, is considered the crown jewel of Historic National Park Lodges.

Copper Queen Hotel

11 Howell Ave
Bisbee, AZ 85603

Phelps-Dodge Mining Company built the Copper Queen Hotel in hilly Bisbee in 1902 to host dignitaries and investors in classical Italianate surroundings. In the middle of the historic downtown, it still has its Italian mosaic tile in the lobby and imported wallpapers in its 53 rooms.

Hotel Congress

311 E Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701

Built across from the train depot, Tucson's Hotel Congress opened in 1919 to provide top-notch accommodations to railroad passengers. A fire in 1934 destroyed the third floor but also flushed out members of the John Dillinger gang. The most wanted bank robber was captured days later. The hotel's 40 rooms in vibrant downtown have iron-framed beds, vintage radios and 1930s-style phones connected to a switchboard.

Hassayampa Inn

122 E Gurley St
Prescott, AZ 86301

Art Deco and the Roaring 20s provide the motif for the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott. Opened in 1927, it was financed by residents who wanted to attract travelers along a new highway called Route 66. Its 67 rooms have modern conveniences and decor, while public areas feature stained-glass doors, hand-painted ceiling beams, wall murals and the original Otis elevator.

La Posada Hotel

303 E 2nd St
Winslow, AZ 86047

La Posada Hotel & Gardens was one of the last Harvey House properties built for railroad travelers stopping off in Winslow. Built in 1930, it closed as a hotel in 1957. It got new life in an old skin in 1994. Some of the 54 rooms, each named after a famous visitor, still have original bathroom mosaic tiles and claw-foot tubs. Others have whirlpool baths. They're surrounded by original garden spaces, as well as spaces for art exhibits and historical photos.

Hotel San Carlos

202 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Phoenix was a booming young metropolitan city when Hotel San Carlos opened in 1928—a state-of-the-art accommodation for folks arriving by train, car and eventually air in 1935. Today you can still see many features of the Italian renaissance architecture, stay in one of 128 uniquely decorated rooms and have easy access to downtown shopping, attractions and nightlife.