3 Historic Hotels with Fascinating Origins

These days there are lots of choices when it comes to hotel stays. In most destinations you can choose between cookie-cutter hotels without any unique personality, or a hotel more of a lesson in history than just a place to stay. Hotels occupying buildings that once had very different purposes are more common than you may think, and staying in them is one way to have a great experience while also teaching little ones about history and the importance of keeping the past alive. Here are just a few great properties repurposed without losing their original charm.

Saint John’s Resort, Plymouth, Michigan
This property may be just 24 minutes from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, but from the moment you arrive it feels like you’ve taken a step back in time. The grounds and massive building were once home to a Catholic seminary, and booking a stay there is a great way to introduce kids to religious architecture. While these days it is a luxury resort, it maintains a connection to its past by keeping the original vaulted ceilings, hand-carved woodwork and beautiful stained-glass windows. Beneath the building you’ll find a 1940s crypt that has been transformed into a candlelit wine grotto. There are also cloistered courtyards for relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. And to make this historic property even more appealing, 100 percent of profits are donated to charity.

British Colonial Nassau, Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau’s history is deeply rooted in colonialism and cultural revolution, and British Colonial Nassau stands as a symbol of that past. The property overlooks Nassau harbor and sits on what was once the Old Fort of Nassau. Since it was first built in the early 1900s, this imposing property has stood as a testament to the British influence on the island nation and its journey to becoming an independent nation.

Hotel Emma, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio has plenty of great hotels, especially along the Riverwalk, but if you want to stay in a building once a cornerstone of one of the city’s historic neighborhoods, book your family’s stay at Hotel Emma at the Pearl. It’s the only Michelin Two Key hotel in the city and sits along a quiet part of the river in a neighborhood known as the Pearl. The original neighborhood, just north of downtown San Antonio, actually grew around Pearl Brewery, and Hotel Emma is keeping the neighborhood’s history, and that of the brewery, alive. The hotel is full of historic artifacts from the brewery.