Washington, DC is a special travel destination; visitors come from all over the world to be in touch with the center of American power, to influence policy, and to witness history. In Palaces of the Public, John DeFerrari explores the fascinating evolution of the places where these visitors stay, from the taverns of the eighteenth century, to the boarding houses of the pre–Civil War era, to the creation of the modern hotel. The book pays special attention to the evolving tension between access and exclusivity that has characterized hotels in the United States from its earliest history. Finally, it analyzes the impact of historic preservation on DC’s most iconic hostelries.

Lively and lavishly illustrated, Palaces of the Public offers a unique perspective on how the capital’s culture and society developed over time.

Cite: "Palaces of the Public: A Cultural History of Washington, DC's Hotels" 17 Aug 2026. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1183433/palaces-of-the-public-a-cultural-history-of-washington-dcs-hotels&gt ISSN 0719-8884