Alamance Hotel

Now a residence for senior citizens, the Alamance Hotel was built in 1924 and was the last in a series of hotels built in the business district in downtown Burlington. The structure offers a good example of Classical Revival and Beaux-Arts styles of architecture as well as the rapid growth of the business district and the optimism residents had in the 1920s about the city's future. Like many downtown hotels, the growth of interstates and the decline of rail traffic resulted in more travelers staying beyond the city core. The hotel operated until 1974 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Burlington experienced a tremendous amount of economic growth in the 1920s. Businessmen and civic leaders encouraged this development and this included the construction of The Alamance Hotel. At that time around the country, hotels were considered essential for a community's prosperity as they stimulated business investment and were important centers for civic and social events.

The hotel, which is a fine example of Beaux Arts architecture, was designed by Charles C. Hartmann, who designed a number of other buildings in North Carolina. It featured simple private rooms on the upper floors and large public areas on the first three floors—the lobby, dining room, and ballroom—that were more elaborate in design. Over the years, a variety of events took place at the hotel including dances, high school proms, receptions, and political meetings.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the hotel was home a to radio station. However, the hotel's importance started to decline in the 1940s. The construction of highways drew economic development away from downtown and events that were held at the hotel were started to take place in other buildings. As a result of these and other factors, the hotel eventually closed in 1974. It remained vacant for many years. When it became a senior residence is unclear.

Roberts, Claudia P. "Alamance Hotel." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 31, 1984. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/AM0613.pdf.