These days, it’s common to see old buildings repurposed into magnificent new hotels. Philadelphia’s Guild House Hotel stands out not just as a thoughtful restoration of a National Historic Landmark, but also for the story it tells. The Victorian building is the former home of the New Century Guild, a group of women who were outspoken abolitionists, suffragists, and artists in the late 19th century. First-time hotelier Brennan Tomasetti hired the female-owned interior design firm Rohe Creative to reimagine the property, now a hotel with 12 rooms furnished with custom-designed wall paper and antiques. Each guest room is dedicated to the story of a former guild member, including Eliza Sproat Turner, the founder, whose love of nature is reflected in botanical prints in a room that was once the guild’s library.
