The March of the Ducks at the Peabody Hotel
The March of the Ducks is a time-honored ceremony in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel.
Tom Bailey/The Commercial Appeal
The Peabody was ranked the third best historic hotel by USA TODAY.
The landmark has been part of the atmosphere of Downtown Memphis since 1925. It was named the third best historic hotel, but last year it came in second. The hotel came in third behind the Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California.
Last year, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem took first place. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa was the fourth best historic hotel in 2023.
All hotels on the list were selected by a panel of experts and voted for by readers. These hotels have a lot of history; the oldest was opened in 1741.
Here is the full list.
Why is the Peabody in Memphis one of the best historic hotels?
“The grande dame of Southern hotels, the historic Peabody is a delight for the senses,” wrote USA TODAY. “Opulence abounds, fantastic restaurants delight the palate and the famous ducks entertain adults and children at this hotel that dates back to 1869 (and has been at its current location for nearly a century).”
The Best Historic Hotels in the USA in 2024
- The historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, opened in 1741
- The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California, opened in 1876.
- The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, opened in 1869.
- The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama, opened in 1847.
- The Historic Davenport Autograph Collection in Spokane, Washington, opened in 1914.
- The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened in 1893.
- The Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, Hawaii, opened in 1927.
- The Willard InterContinental in Washington DC opened in 1818.
- The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, opened in 1766.
- Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey, opened in 1816.
New to the list in 2024 are Historic Davenport, Willard InterContinental, Omni Homestead Resort and Congress Hall.
