The Charleston Hotel is an historic hotel in the City of Lake Charles in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located at 900 Ryan Street, at the corner with West Pujo Street.

Charleston Hotel
Charleston Hotel is located in Louisiana
Charleston Hotel
Charleston Hotel is located in the United States
Charleston Hotel
Location900 Ryan Street, corner with West Pujo Street,
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Coordinates30°13′40″N 93°13′04″W / 30.22773°N 93.21775°W / 30.22773; -93.21775
Area0.14 acres (0.057 ha)
Built1929
Built byW.P. Weber & H.T. McClain
ArchitectJoseph Finger and Livesay Williams
Architectural styleClassical Beaux Arts
NRHP reference No.82002762[1]
Added to NRHPMay 27, 1982

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places May 27, 1982.[1]

History edit

The hotel initial proposal contained eight stories but when work began in 1928 this was increased to ten floors. The estimated cost increased $50,000 to $600,000,[2] and the hotel was completed in 1929, during the administration of Mayor Henry J. Geary.[3]

When completed the building was the city's first skyscraper. The bottom two stories were faced with cement molded to resemble cut stone blocks and the upper eight stories were faced with tan brick in the Neo-Classical Beaux Arts style. It is topped by a stone cornice and some windows on the top story are surrounded by pilasters and elaborate spandrel panels. The interior of the building has a two-story lobby, elaborate tile work, and balconies on the upper level. The Charleston Ballroom, located on the second floor, has Corinthian pilasters and weekly dances were held on the open roof garden.[4][5][6]

Current edit

As of 2014, the structure has undergone extensive renovation with rooms converted into shops with event space throughout the building.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Stewart Alfred (March 1931), "20", The History of Lake Charles, McNeese State University Library, archived from the original on 2014-10-29, retrieved 2014-12-29
  3. ^ "History of Lake Charles: Mayors of Lake Charles". City of Lake Charles. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  4. ^ "Charleston Hotel". Waymarking.com. January 13, 2007. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  5. ^ William G. Dubig (June 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form: Charleston Hotel". National Park Service. Retrieved April 19, 2018. With eight photos from 1980.
  6. ^ "Charleston Hotel" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018. (with two photos and two maps Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine)
  7. ^ "Conventions/Meetings". Lake Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2014-12-29.