A change of scenery can really work wonders when you grow tired of looking out the same window, and nothing piques the curiosity more than booking a stay at one of the more, shall we say, long-lived lodgings here in the Pacific Northwest. Picture brick facades and storied halls, where guests have been able to find fresh air and privacy for decades. Who says you can’t have that, too?
So, pack that book you’ve been meaning to finish and your coziest sweater, and we’ll check into the history of these hotels.
Photo courtesy of The Lodge at St. Edward Park
In 1931, architect John Graham Sr. (whose firm would later be responsible for the Space Needle) built this prodigious building to host Saint Edward’s Seminary. There, among the peaceful woods and not far from the shore of Lake Washington, pupils would study theology for 45 years. Eventually, the land would be preserved as a state park, and the school, which had fallen into disrepair, was renovated in the Romanesque Revival style, with the interior also receiving a massive Art Deco-inspired overhaul. Dormitories became guest rooms, the social hall is now the Remington Ballroom, and you can enjoy a drink at The Tonsorium Bar (the former barbershop).
Photo courtesy of Captain Whidbey Inn
Hop on the ferry for shores lined with old growth firs, and at the end of Penn’s Cove awaits a lodge built from 100-year old logs. Captain Whidbey is emblematic of the remarkable preservation so valued by the residents and the guests of the island, which draws people with its remoteness and beautiful Puget Sound scenery. The 6-acre waterfront property (with a private dock for sail and sea plane access) offers 30 historic rooms, suites and cabins, as well as a cozy library, well-seasoned fireplace and cocktail bar complete with black-and-white photos and a copper kickplate. Use it as basecamp to explore Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, a time capsule of the historical, agricultural and cultural traditions of the area’s Native and Euro-American people.
Photo courtesy of the Inn at Abeja
At first glance, the various accommodations on this 49-acre historic farmstead might not seem particularly old-fashioned, but beneath the restored craftsmanship and country furnishings, you gain a glimpse of what used to be. After long days of tilling the fertile Walla Walla soil, hired hands would rest in the property’s small cottage. Now, lovebirds enjoy the romantic vineyard vista from the Bunk House, where robin's egg blue cabinets and tiled floors evoke the charm of the 1940s. In the Chicken Coop, clucking hens are thankfully a thing of the past, but the cupola and exposed beams keep the spirit of that era alive. You’ll find original paneling in the Locust Suite; Blue Mountains views from the Hayloft Suite’s balcony; and spacious digs in the turn-of-the-century, five-bedroom Farmhouse. With Tuscan-inspired prix fixe dining and wine tasting just steps from your door, there’s not much more you could want for a weekend away.
Photo via MarQueen Hotel
Dating back to 1918, this Queen Anne landmark has served as apartments, but most notably, it started as the Seattle Engineering School. Inside, blacksmiths were trained (and housed) while working to produce Henry Ford’s Model T cars. The year 1998 saw its conversion to a hotel, alongside the Tin Lizzie Lounge, which kept the Prohibition-era building’s speakeasy magic pouring glasses of giggle water for thirsty guests. In 2025, every room and common area were renovated, but tasteful design and decor tell the story of its automotive origins.