Photo © NashCo Photo
The long-vacant 1881 Mariners Building in Portland’s Old Town-Chinatown district has found new life as a hotel thanks to a group of Portland visionaries who were looking for a legacy restoration project. The Society Hotel offers en-suite hotel rooms, rooms with shared bath, and hostel-style bunk rooms. Truly with something for everyone, the carefully restored hotel is perfect for urban travelers looking for affordable accommodations.
Historic preservation was a foremost priority in refurbishing the hotel. The interior retained its staircase with original balustrades and the 19th-century door trim, transoms and wainscoting. The building’s tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings were repurposed into hardwood floors. The original studs were used to fabricate new countertops. Old doors were cleverly transformed into wall panels at the reception desk. The classic cast iron storefront façade and historic brick and stucco exterior have been fully preserved so the building continues to fit in with Portland’s Old Town-Chinatown architectural motifs.
The owners assert that the hotel’s period style, central location and array of modern amenities offer guests “a true Portland experience.” To book your own true Portland experience with a private or shared bath, or your own bunk, go to thesocietyhotel.com. To learn more about a visit to the vibrant city of Portland, Oregon, go to travelportland.com.
