Gainsboro in Roanoke, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hotel Roanoke

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

1. Hotel Roanoke Marker

Inscription. The Hotel Roanoke was built in 1892 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Over the next century, despite fire and depression, it became the city's social center. The Tudor Revival building became a beloved landmark for thousands of visitors. Its original 34 rooms had grown to 384 rooms when, in 1989, the N&W donated it to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. After a major renovation and the addition of a conference center, it reopened in 1995. The Hotel Roanoke was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1995 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Erected 1996 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-98b.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 37° 16.482′ N, 79° 56.28′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in Gainsboro. It can be reached from the intersection of Wells Avenue NE and Commonwealth Avenue NE, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the parking lot area of the Hotel Roanoke. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke VA 24016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region

and in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Hotel Roanoke (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil Rights Trailblazers (about 600 feet away); Health Care and Medicine (about 600 feet away); Milestones in Education (about 600 feet away); From Frontier to Urban Community... A Gainsboro Prelude (about 600 feet away); Evolution of a Neighborhood Name (about 600 feet away); Social and Cultural Life (about 600 feet away); A Once-Vibrant African American Community (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roanoke.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the Hotel Roanoke. “In 1992, the ‘Renew Roanoke’ campaign was launched to raise enough money to reopen the hotel. Virginia Tech had set a deadline of December 31, 1992 to have enough money. By late fall, the campaign was still short $1,000,000. In an unprecedented Christmas-time fundraiser, the campaign succeeded, raising $5,006,000. Norfolk Southern then donated an additional $2,000,000; 30 times what it received for the hotel. The Hotel Roanoke was completely remodeled and restored and a new conference center was built directly adjacent. A pedestrian bridge was also constructed over Norfolk Southern’s railroad tracks to link the hotel and conference

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

2. Hotel Roanoke Marker

center to downtown Roanoke near the Wachovia Tower. The Hotel Roanoke reopened on April 3, 1995, managed by the DoubleTree chain.” (Submitted on September 8, 2009, by Jeff Conner of Norfolk, Virginia.)

Hotel Roanoke image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., December 28, 2008

3. Hotel Roanoke

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2009, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,515 times since then and 213 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 2, 2009, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.