Posted by A Cultural History of Washington, DC's Hotels
John DeFerrari
Historian and Trustee, DC Preservation League
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.
Historian John DeFerrari offers a lively and in-depth history of the city's hotels and their architecture. He 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. DeFerrari addresses the history of hotels for women, tourist hotels, and hotels run by and for African Americans in the days of segregation. He also highlights 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.
Those interested in Washington's history, architecture, and historic preservation will be drawn to this talk and to the book, with its unique perspective on how the city's culture and society developed over time.
Time will be allocated for Q&A.
"Palaces of the Public is more than an engaging historical narrative of the grand hotels—the 'palaces'—of Washington. It is a captivating story of their inner workings, and of the people who built, frequented, managed and—voluntarily, or not—staffed them. Equally architectural and historical in its emphasis, this book is a must read about a most notable building type." Kim Prothro Williams, architectural historian and author, Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC: A History (GUP 2023)
Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
John DeFerrari was born and raised in Washington, DC, and has had a lifelong interest in the history of his native town. He earned a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Harvard University and worked for many years directing reviews of the efficiency and effectiveness of federal government programs. In addition to penning the popular Streets of Washington Substack blog and curating Facebook and Instagram feeds on DC history, DeFerrari has just published a book chronicling the history of hotels in Washington, D.C. He is the author of four previous books: Lost Washington, D.C. (2011), Historic Restaurants of Washington, D.C.: Capital Eats (2013); Capital Streetcars: Early Mass Transit in Washington, D.C. (2015); and Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC’s Avenue of Ambitions (2022), which he co-authored with DCPL trustee D. Peter Sefton. John is co-chair with Peter of DC Preservation League’s Landmarks Committee and takes a special interest in developing historic landmark nominations.