George Washington Hotel, The
Why it's listed
Opened in 1924 across Piccadilly Street from Winchester's train depot, this five-story brick hotel was designed by Clarence L. Harding of Washington, D.C., and built by Wise Granite and Construction Company of Richmond. It was among the first fire-proof hotels in the city and part of the American Hotel Corporation's "Colonial Chain." A 1929 wing by architect Marcellus Wright gave the building its U-shaped plan. The exterior blends Colonial Revival and Neoclassical Revival details, including paired fluted pilasters at the entrance, tripartite first-floor windows with swag decoration, and a bracketed cornice. Inside, the lobby, ballroom and dining room keep plaster moldings, coffered ceilings and marble and oak floors. The hotel served as Winchester's main social gathering place and was closely tied to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Remodeled in 1950-51 and the 1970s, it was rehabilitated from 2003 to 2008. Its architectural quality and civic role support its local significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is a significant regional example of the Colonial Revival and Neoclassical Revival styles, with its interior and exterior integrity and most original ornamentation intact. It also served as Winchester's social hub and primary commercial hotel, built across from the train depot and tied to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.
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 10000383, listed June 24, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 E Piccadilly St, Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Winchester |
| Listed | June 24, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000383 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1951 |
| Architect / builder | 1924: Clarence L. Harding of Washington, D.C., architect; Wise Granite and Construction Co. of Richmond, Virginia, builder. 1929 addition: Marcellus Wright of Richmond, Virginia, architect; Quigley Hafer of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, contractor. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival; Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Completely rehabilitated 2003-2008 following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and reopened as a hotel on May 1, 2008; the building had been vacant from 1997 until its 2003 purchase. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Winchester Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.18752, -78.16305 (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 10000383.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713299
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.