One of the best ways to feel a sense of place in a destination is to stay in a hotel with a rich history that can tell stories about the region you’re visiting. Luckily, these hotels aren’t hard to find in the United States, thanks to the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence, the annual hotel awards from Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This year’s winners were honored on October 12 at the Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona, a 331-room Spanish colonial revival–style lodge with its own history that dates back to 1929. Of the 14 awards categories, 4 focus on employees or hoteliers, while the other 9 feature hotels in categories ranging from New Member of the Year and Best Social Media to Best overall, ranked by property size. A nominee must be a member of Historic Hotels of America and demonstrate how the hotel has increased recognition around its own history and how it has contributed in its designated award category. The 2023 awardees were selected from more than 350 nominations by historic hotels, preservation supporters, prior award recipients, community leaders, and leadership from Historic Hotels of America.

For some history-filled travel inspiration, read on for this year’s nine hotel winners, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer vacation...

Read the full list on Afar's website.