Hilton Hotel
Also known as: Windsor Hotel
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Rising ten stories above the northern edge of downtown Abilene, this light-tan brick hotel opened in September 1927 with 260 rooms. Local investors, about 300 of them, financed it to serve the traders and wildcatters who arrived after oil strikes began in 1918. Architect David S. Castle gave it simple Classical Revival detailing in cream-colored glazed terra-cotta, including a bracketed cornice and decorative window surrounds. Conrad Hilton operated it until 1947, when it became the Windsor. Its ballroom and restaurant served generations of residents for dances, club meetings and dinners, and the band of a young Lawrence Welk played in the dining room in the early 1930s. Next door, a two-story brick building put up in 1926 as a Ford dealership became the hotel garage in 1937, and it keeps an original automobile lift. Alterations include a covered lobby atrium, a late-1930s penthouse and 1950s storefront and awning changes. The building remains a visual landmark of the city's skyline.
Significance in brief: The hotel reflects the economic expansion and boosterism in West Texas after the oil discoveries of 1918. It is also noted for its Classical Revival detailing, its link to prominent local architect David S. Castle, and its long role as a social gathering place for Abilene residents. The adjacent garage, built as a Ford dealership, is tied to the growth of automobile transportation.
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 85003658, listed December 23, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 986 N. Fourth St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | December 23, 1993 |
| Reference number | 85003658 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1927) |
| Architect / builder | David S. Castle |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in excellent condition at the time of the form; the interior and ground floor have been altered, and the original owner objection was later removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45326, -99.71533 (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 85003658.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001332
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.