Historic Elegance

While driving through downtown Salt Lake City, we passed what we first thought were three identical buildings. An internet study revealed that the structure was the Peery Hotel, which has functioned continuously as a hotel since its construction in 1910.

The Peery Hotel was designed by prominent European hotel architect Charles B. Onderdonk. The unique E-shaped plan of the upper two levels of the building provides natural light to all of the hotel rooms.

The plan is further accentuated visually by the brick quoins (dressed concrete stones at the corners of buildings, placed in an alternating or stacked position) at the corner of each wing (hospitality online.com).

The Peery hotel was built by David and Joseph Peery to accommodate the wealthy who had succeeded in Utah's mines. The hotel features a mix of Prairie-style architecture and a classic revival influence (traveltips.usatoday.com/historic-salt-lake-city-hotels).

"This hotel prides itself on offering hospitality the way it is meant to be, promising cordial elegance in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Replicating the gracious charm of a Victorian parlor, experts of period detail will appreciate every aspect of the beautifully renovated Grand Lobby.

"You'll find plenty of wingback chairs paired with reading lamps and side tables to utilize for an afternoon spent people watching or reading.

"The entryway is graced with an enormous chandelier hanging above the marble floor leading to the grand staircase" (city-data.com/ articles/Peery-Hotel).

It was constructed just one year after the completion of the city's two major railroad depots and is located just three blocks east of the Denver Rio Grande Depot, well-placed to take advantage of the city's rail traffic.

The completed restoration reveals the elegance of the hotel, the only hotel listed on Utah's National Historic Register. This beautiful bookcase provided a most fitting piece of furniture for the lobby.

The detail of the woodworking was representative of the craftsmanship of years ago. It is the small touches like that shown here and the cut glass work in a doorway to the dining room that make the Peery Hotel a one-of-a-kind experience.