Multnomah Hotel

Not to be confused with the Multnomah Building, also located in Portland.

The Multnomah Hotel, located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States, is a historic hotel building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[3] It currently operates as the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown.

Multnomah Hotel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Portland Historic Landmark[1]
Embassy Suites Portland - Downtown seen in 2012 (former Multnomah Hotel)
Location within downtown Portland
Location	319 SW Pine Street Portland, Oregon
Coordinates	45°31′19″N 122°40′27″W
Built	1911-1912
Architect	Gibson & Cahill
Architectural style	American Renaissance
NRHP reference No.	85000369[2]
Added to NRHP	February 28, 1985

History

Multnomah Hotel circa 1920

The 700-room hotel was built by local entrepreneur Philip Gevurtz^[4] and opened on February 8, 1912.^[5] The nine-story building filled an entire city block.^[6] It was operated by Western Hotels, now known as Westin Hotels & Resorts, from 1931 until it closed in 1963.^[7] At the time of its closure, The Oregonian wrote that the Multnomah had been "one of the most famous hotels on the Pacific Coast".^[6] From 1965 to 1992 the building housed government offices.^[7] It was sold in 1995 and restored, its 700 rooms reduced to 276 suites,^[8] reopening in 1997 as the Embassy Suites Portland - Downtown. The hotel is currently a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.^[9]

Famous guests

The hotel has hosted Paramahansa Yogananda,^[10] Queen Marie of Romania, Charles Lindbergh,^[6][7] Rudolph Valentino, Amelia Earhart,^[11] Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Elvis Presley,^[12] and every president from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Nixon.^[8] Maurice Ravel and Lisa Roma played a concert in the hotel ballroom on February 15, 1928.^[13]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Southwest Portland, Oregon