Imperial Hotel
Also known as: Hotel Greenville201 W. Washington St., Greenville, South Carolina
Photo
Imperial Hotel
Photo taken by Michael Miller in February 2021
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Map
Coordinates:
+34.85131, -82.4008134°51'05" N, 82°24'03" W
Quadrangle map:Greenville
Description
The Imperial Hotel is significant as Greenville’s first skyscraper, illustrating the commercial growth of the city, and as the third example of early high rise architecture in South Carolina. Designed by Greenville architects F.H. and J.G. Cunningham as a seven-story, ninety-room commercial hotel, construction was begun in 1911 by W.M. Jordan of Greenville and completed in 1912. The hotel was constructed during a period of economic prosperity brought to Greenville by an expanding cotton textile industry. The hotel was constructed as a seven-story skyscraper with a buff colored brick veneer over a steel frame. By 1930 it was the largest hotel in Greenville with 250 rooms. The “U” shaped footprint of the building is largely unadorned with the first floor façade featuring elliptical fanlighted windows followed by six floors with six-over-one windows. The building has a flat roof topped by a metal boxed cornice supported by brackets. There are Art Deco influenced decorative moldings applied below each set of brackets. The first floor lobby area has Terrazzo tile floors, marble stairs and baseboards, brass rail detailing and pine paneling. Listed in the National Register September 12, 1985. - SCDAH
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1985
- Reference number
- 85002167
- Architectural styles
- American Movement: Chicago; Other architectural type; The Commercial Style
- Area of significance
- Architecture
- Level of significance
- Local
- Evaluation criteria
- C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- Building
- Historic function
- Hotel
- Current function
- Hotel
- Period of significance
- 1900-1924
- Significant years
- 1911; 1912
Update Log
- February 22, 2021: New photo from Michael Miller
- September 12, 2014: Updated by Michael Miller: Added "Description" & "Street View" and Imported Photo
- September 12, 2014: Photo imported by Michael Miller