Lorraine Apartments
Also known as: Lorraine Hotel; Divine Lorraine Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1892-1893 on North Broad Street at Fairmount Avenue, the ten-story steel-framed Lorraine Apartments was designed by Willis G. Hale for a stock company of Philadelphia and New York investors. Its gray-tan Pompeian brick front, marble portico with a knight figure atop the pediment, and bay windows gave it a monumental presence, and its interior light court was bridged by brick arches at the fifth and ninth floors. Suites of parlors, dining rooms, and bedrooms were planned around central bathrooms, and kitchens in the basement served meals to residents. The building was converted to the Lorraine Hotel in 1900. From 1948 it was operated by Father Divine's Divine Peace Mission as an interracial hotel, and its tenth-floor halls were used for worship. The building is regarded as one of the best preserved examples of late nineteenth-century high-rise apartment housing in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the most luxurious and best preserved late nineteenth-century apartment houses in Philadelphia, a major work by architect Willis G. Hale, and a notable example of early high-rise apartment living. It also cites its use from 1948 by Father Divine's Divine Peace Mission as an interracial hotel and center of civil rights and social welfare activity, which it regards as the basis for significance under the social and ethnic history areas.
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 02001427, listed November 27, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 699 N. Broad St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 27, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Hale, Willis G. (architect and head of stock company that developed the building); George F. Payne & Co (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as the Divine Lorraine Hotel by the Divine Peace Mission from 1948; the nomination describes the early 1900s hotel as remaining a hotel until 1999. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96669, -75.16004 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 02001427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5284100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.