The Mayflower Hotel: 100 Years of History in Washington, D.C.

Just two weeks after its opening in 1925, The Mayflower Hotel held the inauguration ball for Calvin Coolidge, the United States’ 30^th president. This lavish party set the stage for decades of historically significant moments to take place at the property, which turns 100 this year. 

From the inaugural balls of Coolidge, Reagan, and Kennedy; to countless weddings; to visits by famous figures – the Autograph Collection hotel has plenty of stories to tell. Travel Market Report spoke with Shelly DeMeglio, general manager of The Mayflower Hotel, about its past and present, including how the property’s centennial celebrations are going. 

100 Years of History

When it was first built, the hotel was designed “for the community to walk through the Promenade and enjoy the beauty of the building,” DeMeglio told TMR. “When you step through the doors, it’s just absolutely stunning with the beautiful architecture. It really stands out when you walk through the Promenade with the crystal chandeliers, and you just have this feeling of history and importance.”     

As a result, notable happenings are a given at the Mayflower. In 1927, a celebratory breakfast was held for Charles Lindbergh as he received the Hubbard Medal by the National Geographic Society. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt penned his famous speech including, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” in room 776 of the hotel. 

In 1947, the Mayflower underwent a major restoration, and in 1957, the King of Morocco, Mohammed V, hosted a dinner there for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover frequented the hotel restaurant (it was later named Edgar Bar & Kitchen after him), and so did President Harry Truman, who coined the hotel “Washington’s Second Best Address.” It has also been called “the Hotel of Presidents.” The list goes on. 

Other notable guests have included Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, John Wayne, Barbra Streisand, Brad Pitt, and Beyonce. 

“Our staff really take a lot of pride in serving presidents and dignitaries and movie stars and do it very gracefully and enjoy that part of their job,” DeMeglio said. “It makes it very exciting and gives them something to be really proud of.” 

Beyond the big moments, every day for 100 years, locals have passed by the hotel, walked its grounds, frequented its lounges, and dined at its restaurant. And for decades, DeMeglio was one of them. She has worked for Marriott hotels in Washington, D.C. for 40 years and, like many everyday guests and locals, grew great admiration for it – “I used to walk past, prior to it being part of the Marriott family, and would say ‘Wow, I wish I could work at a hotel like this someday,’” she said. 

It wasn’t until 1995 that the Mayflower joined Marriott International; it was first a Renaissance hotel and then converted to the Autograph Collection brand, which is home to many landmark properties, in 2015. DeMeglio became GM about seven years later. 

The Mayflower of Today

Fast forward to today, The Mayflower Hotel attracts a wide variety of both leisure and business travelers, from families to history buffs to corporate groups. Guests of all kinds see the Beaux-arts grandeur of the property and typically have questions about when it opened and what celebrities have visited. 

“We are definitely storytellers at the Mayflower because there is so much history,” DeMeglio said. “And we feel it’s so important to share that history with the guests that walk through.” 

Hotel associates are happy to guide tours of the hotel, whether it’s a 15-minute walk-through or a more in-depth, hour-long dive into the rich backstory. There is also a display on the mezzanine level above the lobby showcasing the hotel’s history that guests can view in their own time. 

The mantra “Married at the Mayflower” is taking on new meaning now, too, as brides-to-be book weddings because it’s where their grandparents were married. In one case, a bride getting married in December brought in a photo of her grandparents’ wedding at the Mayflower from the 1940s. The Mayflower staff studied the photo to determine which of the six event spaces the photo was taken in, so that the modern couple could hold their wedding in the same ballroom. 

“She’s so excited to share that story, and those are the legacy stories that really keep this history alive,” DeMeglio said. 

Guests also enjoy shopping in the White House Historical Association store on-site, using the fitness center, and exploring the D.C. area from the hotel’s central location on Connecticut Avenue. 

Celebrating the Centennial

On Feb. 18, 2025, the exact 100^th anniversary date of The Mayflower’s grand opening, the hotel hosted a centennial proclamation ceremony, where Marriott Group President Liam Brown, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Lawrence Horwitz, executive vice president of Historic Hotels of America, all spoke.  

The evening served to honor the hotel’s more than 400 workers, 55 of them who have been employed there for more than 30 years, DeMeglio said. 

But the festivities are ongoing. Centennial-themed cocktails are flowing at the bar, such as Mayflower’s Bathtub Gin and the reimagined Vieux Carre. Exclusive packages are being offered, as well. With the special anniversary offer, guests receive a cake, celebratory champagne for two, and a keepsake book chronicling 100 years of The Mayflower Hotel. 

There is also the opportunity to recreate the hotel’s extravagant opening gala with a bespoke event in the Grand Ballroom. DeMeglio noted that many organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries are choosing to have their galas at the hotel this year. 

The mezzanine display has new historical exhibits featuring notable mementos such as vintage photographs, elegant China dinnerware, and silverware. People continue to call the hotel to donate even more of them, such as one man who recently returned an original silver coffee urn stamped with the Mayflower name. 

“It’s a very exciting year, there’s a lot of curiosity,” DeMeglio said. “Guests really want to be a part of the celebration.”