The Hamilton Hotel
The first Hamilton hotel was built in 1885-1889 and was attributed to Mr. J.M. Hamilton. The construction of this building transformed the Laredo community into a flourishing metropolis. Due to the escalation of the community’s popularity, the three story hotel would later undergo essential renovations. The San Antonio architectural firm of Ayres and Ayres engineered the distinctive construction of this Renaissance inspired building. The statuesque Hamilton Hotel stands its ground in South Laredo, Downtown at an appalling twelve stories high. The hotels prominent location, stylistic beauty, and the community’s determination to keep it preserved uphold the building to a high degree of architectural and historical integrity.

Taking a walk through downtown, towards the esteemed Hamilton hotel is as if taking a stroll through history. Right across from the hotel is a pharmacy and a neighboring building that are only a few years younger. On the front, right corner, lays the Jarvis plaza and on its left is the U.S. Post Office/ Court House edifice. The Hamilton hotel is situated smack in the middle of all these historical landmarks. The favorable route is through the Jarvis Plaza and the U.S. Post Office/Court House. It is two o’clock in the afternoon and the sun is out with no mercy, but the green-leafed, willowed trees surrounding the court house provide a sufficient amount of shade. There’s very little commotion. No yelling or running, only pedestrians sitting on benches and taking in the pretty view. At the end of the pathway, on its right, is a sign reminding everyone to cross only at the cross walks. On the left of the pathway, is a fire hydrant whose red paint is chipping off and is leaving an uncovered patchwork of yellow. More significant is the Hamilton hotel at the front of the path.

The hotel features a Spanish Renaissance Revival style with its keystones, glazed tile, and mosaic patterns that wonderfully depict a beautiful flora and fauna. Windows adorn the brown-bricked building on its every side. The artistic combination of asymmetrical towers, balconies, pinnacles, and bays provide a unique architectural style. The sight can only be described as ancient, but assertively beautiful. A couple of steps at the front of the copper colored double doors provide assistance to those who need it. The inside is lovely and shockingly annexed with A.C. which is quite refreshing from the hot atmosphere outdoors. On the right of the entrance are matching black steeled chairs and tables where two elderly ladies sit, chatting amicably away. The left side is deserted with the exception of being furnished with elegant, brown couches.

On the ceilings hang black-steeled, candlelit, chandeliers and the extensive hallways are dimly lit with light bulbs that travel to the end of the hallways. Open windowed, doors lead to an extensive patio where the light seeps in and next door is a considerably large room filled with white tables. A group of elderly ladies and a man chat rather loud amongst themselves at one of these tables. The floor is a decorative pattern of black and white tile, except not the entire floor consists of tile. The halls for example, have as a floor a forest green carpet. The walls are mid-way decorated with the same mosaic patterns that decorated the outside. It leads to the conclusion that not only was the foundation of the structure carefully thought through, but the whole product as a whole as well.
The Hamilton hotel is now efficiently and partly used as a senior residence and local restaurant. The charming restaurant is on the west side of the hotel. It has recently opened, and is called “El Catan Grill’’. Colorful arrangements of flowers serve as a centerpiece at each white table and for the time-being it is also deserted. This building is quite enormous that on its east side there is a sign offering leasing. The walls along the leasing part of the hotel are distinctively different from the walls in the residence and restaurant; white paint seems to have been thrown on these walls instead of being adorned with colorful patterns. Due to its renovation and up keeping from the Laredo community, the Hamilton hotel won the award for the excellence in historic preservation in 2002

The hotel is a finely built structure filled with and surrounded by history. It is no wonder why the community preserves such a prominent building. To this day, it holds the title as the tallest building in Laredo’s skyline and is remembered as the turning point into making the downtown area into a metropolis. The buildings prominent location, architectural beauty, and its zealous community just further validates to how much of a valued key it is to the downtown area.