Port Huron in St. Clair County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Harrington Hotel / Truman Honeymoon
Harrington Hotel
The Harrington Hotel opened amid much fanfare in 1896.
A unique blend of Romanesque, Classical and Queen Anne architecture, the hotel thrived for many years. As business declined due to the popularity of automobile travel, expressways and roadside motels, the hotel deteriorated. It eventually closed in 1986.
A group of investors bought the structure that same year, converting it to housing for senior citizens.
The Harrington Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Truman Honeymoon
In May 1919 Harry S. Truman, the future thirty-thrid president of the United States, returned from duty in World War I. In June he married Bess Wallace. The couple spent part of their honeymoon in Port Huron. The Truman´s daughter wrote in her biography of Bess, "For the rest of his life, whenever Harry Truman wanted to regain the radiance of those first days with Bess, he simply wrote: ´Port Huron.´ For him it was a code word for happiness."
Erected 2005 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number L970.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 42° 58.363′ N, 82° 25.46′ W. Marker is in Port Huron, Michigan, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of Military Street (Business Interstate 69/94) and Wall Street, on the right when traveling north on Military Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1026 Military Street, Port Huron MI 48060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hammond American Legion Post 8 Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Port Huron Public Library (about 500 feet away); Intersection of Military Road and Indian Reservation (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. John’s United Church of Christ (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named St. John's United Church of Christ (approx. 0.2 miles away); Customhouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Woman's Life Insurance Society (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Huron.
Also see . . .
1. Harrington Hotel, Port Huron, Michigan. Old Hotels website entry (Submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Harrington Hotel. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,054 times since then and 122 times this year. Last updated on December 18, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1. submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on December 18, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.