Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Why it's listed
Occupying a full block on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard between Rodeo and El Camino Drives, this nine-story hotel was built in 1927-1928 for real estate developer Walter G. McCarty. Walker and Eisen designed it in the Second Renaissance Revival style, with a street-level arcade of round-headed arches, brick-clad middle floors and terra cotta upper stories. Its steel-reinforced concrete frame carries decoration that includes carved beasts, medallions and lion keystones. It opened on New Year's Eve, 1928, and was the first major hotel built in Beverly Hills since 1912. McCarty, who once owned a quarter of the city, wanted it to draw attention to his residential tracts. The hotel anchored commercial growth along Wilshire Boulevard and hosted film stars, presidents and royalty. Exterior changes and interior remodelling have occurred, and the 1971 twelve-story Beverly Wing is excluded, but the main building keeps its overall design integrity and several original interior spaces, including the Petit Trianon room and an eighth-floor apartment.
Significance in brief: It was the first major hotel built in Beverly Hills since 1912 and an early anchor of commercial development on Wilshire Boulevard. It is tied to McCarty, an influential developer, and is the most prominent Beverly Hills work of the architectural firm Walker and Eisen. It has also served as a social center and a long-standing part of California's tourist industry.
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 87000908, listed June 12, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9528 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | June 12, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000908 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1928) |
| Architect / builder | Walker and Eisen (architects); William Simpson Company supervised construction |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a luxury hotel; described as excellent condition and beautifully maintained, with interior remodelling and a 1971 rear addition (the Beverly Wing) excluded from the nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.06683, -118.38971 (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 87000908.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1630836
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.