8 Hotels That Began as Something Else*

1. W Minneapolis–The Foshay. When it was constructed in 1929 as a 32-story office building, it was the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast.
2. Central Station Hotel, Curio by Hilton, Memphis. Named for the 1914 train station that is still an Amtrak stop.
3.  The Historic Brookstown Inn–1837, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Once a textile factory, it is the oldest physical reminder of the city's early industrial history.
4. Lucy the Elephant, Margate, New Jersey. Used for advertising on the Jersey Shore, the 65-foot-tall elephant is open for tours and overnight stays.
5. The Liberty, Boston. Once the Charles Street Jail, this National Historic Landmark,  constructed in 1851, still features cell bars. 
6. Ace Hotel, Los Angeles. The 1927 Spanish Gothic building once housed the United Artists movie palace.
7. The Publishing House, Chicago. The historic building once served as the Free Methodist Publishing House.
8. Union Station Hotel Nashville Yards. The building was a train terminal from 1900 until 1986. 

*Click here for another seven