Imperial Hotel (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Imperial Hotel
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The Hotel Vintage Portland, on SW Broadway at Washington Street
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
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| Location | 422–426 SW Broadway Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Frederick Manson White |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003037 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1985 |
The Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland is a historic hotel building in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. It was first known as the Imperial Hotel and later as The Plaza Hotel. The building was finished in 1894. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site in the U.S. Since 2015, the building has been called the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland. Before that, it was known as the Hotel Vintage Plaza starting in 1991.
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Building History and Design
Construction on this historic building started in 1892. The Imperial Hotel officially opened its doors in March 1894. The building was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style. This style uses strong, heavy stone, round arches, and often has a castle-like look. It was also sometimes called the Wells Building, named after one of its builders, George F. Wells.
Changes and Expansions
In 1909, a big expansion was added. This was a separate building right next to the original hotel. It was known as the New Imperial Hotel. By the end of 1949, the two buildings became separate hotels. The newer building was sold, but it kept the Imperial name for a while. The original 1894 building was renamed the Plaza Hotel. Today, the newer building is known as the Hotel Lucia.
In the 1980s, the building went through some renovations. A glass storefront that had been added was removed. This revealed the beautiful original stonework on the lower part of the building. You can still see the hotel's old name, "Imperial," carved into the stone above the Washington Street entrance.
From Hotel to Offices and Back
By the early 1980s, the building was no longer used as a hotel. It became an office building, known as the Wells Financial Center. However, many of its offices were empty. This was partly because there were too many office spaces available in downtown Portland at the time.
In the spring of 1985, the building was recognized as a Portland historical landmark. Later that year, on December 2, 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This listing helps protect important historical buildings.
In 1989, a company called Kimco Hotel Management bought the building. They are now known as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant Group. They decided to remodel it into a special kind of hotel called a boutique hotel. These hotels are usually smaller and have a unique style. The hotel reopened in May 1991 and was named the Hotel Vintage Plaza.
In early 2015, the hotel closed for two months for another big remodeling project. This renovation cost $16 million. When it reopened in mid-March, it was given its current name, the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland.
Images for kids
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A circa 1910 postcard of the newly expanded hotel, with the new building on the left and the original building on the right
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The Imperial Hotel circa 1915, with the newer (1909) building in the background
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Stonework of the former Imperial name and 1894 date, above the Washington Street entrance
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Detail view of exterior, upper floors
