Aztec Hotel
Why it's listed
Monrovia's Aztec Hotel is a two-story hotel and shop building with a basement, built of brick, hollow tile and concrete and finished in salmon-colored stucco. Its L-shaped plan leaves a large courtyard in the northwest corner. The ground floor holds six stores, the lobby, kitchen, dining room and four apartments, while the upper floor has 36 hotel rooms and four more apartments. Architect Robert B. Stacy-Judd drew on John L. Stephens's travel writings about Central America to create a Mayan design, with stepped rooflines, square spires, geometric ornament, carved panels, murals, mosaics and reliefs inside and out. He called it Aztec because he thought the public knew that name better. Opened on September 5, 1925, it was the first attempt to bring Mayan architecture to modern American buildings and influenced theaters, hotels and houses elsewhere. The style faded by the end of the 1920s, but the hotel remained largely unaltered and is Monrovia's best-known landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the hotel as the completion of the first architectural attempt to apply Mayan art and architecture to modern American buildings. Its publicity influenced theaters, hotels, clubs and houses across the country, and it spurred companies making Mayan-themed furniture, tile and fixtures. It remains Monrovia's most visible landmark and the first of a very few remaining Mayan-styled buildings in the United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000691, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 311 W. Foothill Blvd., Monrovia |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1924) |
| Architect / builder | Robert Stacy-Judd |
| Architectural style | Mayan revival (described as a Mayan art and architectural theme) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, privately owned, with commercial use. Alterations are described as very minimal, mainly changed neon signs, some replaced display windows and minor interior changes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.15155, -118.00581 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4832944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.