Hotel Congress- Tucson, AZ

Sitting in the lobby of the Hotel Congress, you can almost imagine it is 1919 outside the front doors. It just has the feel of an old Western railroad hotel, located in a dusty small town, much like Tucson once was. 

Designed by Los Angeles architects William and Alexander Curlett in the Mission Revival style, it was constructed in 1918 as part of a Congress Street expansion project, which included the Rialto theater. Best known as the site of John Dillinger’s arrest on January 22, 1934 (he was captured after the hotel caught fire, forcing him to flee the third floor via fire department ladders), the hotel still reflects the aesthetics of that era. 

Following the fire, Tuscon architect Roy Place rebuilt the upper floors in the style of the original design. Today, the hotel also houses several unique bars and music venues, including the original 1919 Tap Room, featuring a 100 year old mahogany bar, relocated from Tucson’s Talk of the Town Restaurant.