Divine Lorraine Hotel

The Divine Lorraine Hotel rises at the corner of Broad Street and Fairmount Avenue, spreading across ten floors with Late Victorian facades and detailed brickwork. The front shows narrow arched windows and bay projections that give the building its vertical character.

Willis G. Hale designed the building between 1892 and 1894 as luxury apartments for wealthy families. It converted to a hotel in 1900, then Father Divine took over management and ran it through the mid-20th century.

When Father Divine took over, the building opened its doors to guests of all races at a time when most hotels refused this practice. It became a meeting place for those who found few welcoming spaces elsewhere in the city.

The building sits on a busy corner in the northern part of Philadelphia, easy to spot due to its height and facade. The surrounding area offers shops and restaurants, and the entrance leads into a renovated section with residential and event spaces.

The original design included central kitchens that delivered meals directly to apartments, so residents did not need their own household staff. This solution reflected an attempt to offer upscale living without the need for large service crews.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1900

Architects: Willis G. Hale

GPS coordinates: 39.96667,-75.16028

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26