Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio
The Emily Morgan Hotel, an iconic landmark in San Antonio, blends a rich history, striking architecture, and a touch of the supernatural. Located near the Alamo within the Alamo Plaza Historic District, this 13-story Neo-Gothic building has stood as a testament to the city’s evolution since its completion in 1924.
Originally designed by architect Ralph Cameron and developed by J.M. Nix, the building first served as the Medical Arts Building, housing doctors’ offices and a 50-bed hospital. It was the tallest building in San Antonio until 1928, making it a symbol of modernity in its time. After decades of serving the medical community, the building transitioned to office space in 1976. In 1984, it underwent a major transformation, emerging as the Emily Morgan Hotel, named after the "Yellow Rose of Texas," whose legendary contributions to the Texas Revolution remain celebrated.
Today, the Emily Morgan Hotel is part of the DoubleTree by Hilton brand, following a multi-million dollar renovation in 2012. It is recognized as a "Historic Hotel of America" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide, highlighting its importance as a cultural and architectural treasure.
The hotel features 177 elegantly designed guest rooms and offers a sophisticated stay with on-site dining at the award-winning Oro Restaurant and Bar. Its prime location provides easy access to the Alamo and the vibrant San Antonio Riverwalk. Despite its modern comforts, the hotel retains an air of mystery, being widely regarded as one of San Antonio’s most haunted locations.
With its Neo-Gothic exterior intact and its storied history as the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi River, the Emily Morgan Hotel is a quintessential San Antonio destination. It offers guests an unparalleled blend of history, luxury, and intrigue-making it more than just a place to stay, but a true journey into the past.
Originally designed by architect Ralph Cameron and developed by J.M. Nix, the building first served as the Medical Arts Building, housing doctors’ offices and a 50-bed hospital. It was the tallest building in San Antonio until 1928, making it a symbol of modernity in its time. After decades of serving the medical community, the building transitioned to office space in 1976. In 1984, it underwent a major transformation, emerging as the Emily Morgan Hotel, named after the "Yellow Rose of Texas," whose legendary contributions to the Texas Revolution remain celebrated.
Today, the Emily Morgan Hotel is part of the DoubleTree by Hilton brand, following a multi-million dollar renovation in 2012. It is recognized as a "Historic Hotel of America" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide, highlighting its importance as a cultural and architectural treasure.
The hotel features 177 elegantly designed guest rooms and offers a sophisticated stay with on-site dining at the award-winning Oro Restaurant and Bar. Its prime location provides easy access to the Alamo and the vibrant San Antonio Riverwalk. Despite its modern comforts, the hotel retains an air of mystery, being widely regarded as one of San Antonio’s most haunted locations.
With its Neo-Gothic exterior intact and its storied history as the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi River, the Emily Morgan Hotel is a quintessential San Antonio destination. It offers guests an unparalleled blend of history, luxury, and intrigue-making it more than just a place to stay, but a true journey into the past.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Antonio. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Emily Morgan Hotel on Map
Sight Name: Emily Morgan Hotel
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in San Antonio, Texas
Create Your Own Walk in San Antonio
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Antonio is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
River Walk Tour
The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Río or simply The River Walk) is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of the city. A successful special-case pedestrian street, this walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting major tourist draws and attractions that add to its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
King William Historical District Tour
San Antonio’s first “suburb” and the very first historical district in Texas, revitalized during the 1960s, the King William District encompasses 25 blocks south of downtown and east of the San Antonio River.
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
San Antonio Introduction Walking Tour
San Antonio, one of Texas' major cities, boasts rich colonial heritage. The city was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13. At the time of European encounter, the area near the San Antonio River Valley was inhabited by Payaya Indians who called it Yanaguana, the "refreshing waters".
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles