| The magnificent Hotel Yorktowne is another
gem in York’s architectural portfolio. The Renaissance
Revival
structure defines York’s skyline. When first built in 1925,
the hotel contained 198 rooms. Subsequent additions occurred in
1929, 1933, and 1953. In addition to serving as "the"
lodging destination for discriminating visitors—including
Presidents—the hotel is a popular host for meetings and
receptions. Of note, the Hotel Yorktowne is one of only 150
facilities designated as National Trust Historic Hotels of
America.
The Roaring Twenties are alive and well at the towering
building, which features an elegant ballroom. The building’s
red brick exterior is trimmed with ornamental terra-cotta.
Design-wise, this building incorporates many features of the
Renaissance Revival Style, including formal design, rusticated
ground level, round arched windows with
keystones, and roof balustrade. Another common feature of this architectural style
is distinct horizontal divisions, typically separated by a
stringcourse and usually from floor-to-floor. However, because
of the size of the Yorktowne, some of these divisions span
multiple stories. The ground level is distinct. The second and
third stories are "one" from the outside—two-story
arched windows. The next level contains small windows, offset by
courses. The next horizontal division is five stories. A belt
course separates this division from the top levels, which are
also architecturally distinct.
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© 2002 by Scott D. Butcher
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