Tower Hotel, An apartment building, on the US Register of Historic Places
The Tower Hotel is an Art Deco building constructed in 1930 located at the corner of W. 11th and Jackson Streets in downtown Anderson. The structure displays decorative terra cotta and stone details, vertical lines, and pointed architectural features that define its period style and distinguish it within the urban landscape.
The building was designed in 1930 by local architect Erwin F. Miller and originally planned as a hotel with over 130 rooms and upscale amenities like a coffee shop and banquet hall. The Great Depression prevented the opening, leaving the building vacant for decades until it was later converted into residential apartments.
The building earned its Tower name from its prominent height and remains a defining landmark in Anderson's downtown. Today it serves as residential apartments and shows how a historic structure can be revived to contribute meaningfully to neighborhood character.
The building sits in a central downtown location easily reached from the street, with its entrance at the corner of W. 11th and Jackson Streets. As a modern residential complex with apartment units, the interior is not open to public access, but the exterior architectural details can be viewed and photographed from outside.
The building was completed in 1930 but never opened as a hotel, making it a failed Depression-era development project. In 1971, a wooden penthouse with a mansard roof was added to keep it taller than the city's new office building, reflecting a playful rivalry between downtown landmarks.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
