Senator Hotel, historic hotel in Sacramento, California
The Senator Hotel is a nine-story Renaissance Revival building completed in 1924 and located across from the California State Capitol. It features a grand archway entrance with columns, a skylit atrium lobby inspired by Italian palace courtyards, and ornate decorative details throughout its stone facade.
The hotel opened in 1924 after designs by architects Kenneth Mac Donald and G. Albert Lansburgh and served as a meeting place for politicians, lobbyists, and prominent visitors including Presidents Harding, Nixon, Ford, and Carter. After decades of operation, the hotel closed in 1979 due to safety issues and was subsequently converted to an office building while preserving its historic appearance.
The hotel became a gathering place for politicians and lobbyists who met in its lobby to discuss important matters of the day. The Empire Room hosted jazz concerts and social events, making it a social center in downtown Sacramento where the city's influential figures regularly gathered.
The building is located in downtown Sacramento at the corner of 12th and L streets across from the State Capitol, making it easily accessible on foot. Since it is now an office building, public interior access is not available, but the exterior architecture and facade details can be viewed from the street.
The hotel's atrium was inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese and created a bright, open space lit naturally from above. This Italian design concept was unusual for the time and helped the building stand out among contemporary structures in Sacramento.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
