La Posada Hotel: Where History, Art, and Comfort Converge
Step into Winslow’s crown jewel of hospitality and heritage.
La Posada Hotel (2017-05-12) by Kevin StewartArizona Preservation Foundation
The last great railroad hotel on Route 66
La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, is the last grand Fred Harvey–era railroad hotel built in 1930 and designed by Mary Colter. Meticulously restored, it blends Spanish Colonial Revival charm with art, gardens, a renowned restaurant, and ties to Route 66 and rail history.
Mary CoulterArizona Preservation Foundation
How architect Mary Colter created a masterpiece in Winslow
Winslow is home to one of the few remaining buildings designed by famed architect Mary E.J. Colter. For Colter, La Posada wasn’t just another hotel – it was designed as a living work of art, blending Spanish Revival style with Native and regional influences.
One of very few female architects in her day, Colter created a new architectural style by blending the Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival styles with rustic elements and Native American motifs. The style became popular throughout the American Southwest.
Fred Harvey, the Santa Fe Railway, and luxury on the rails
Once a glamorous stop for elite train passengers, La Posada was a centerpiece of the Fred Harvey empire.
The hotel was commissioned by Fred Harvey to be part of his hospitality empire and mission to “civilize the West,” by creating luxury dining and accommodations along the railroads of the Southwest.
Harvey GirlsArizona Preservation Foundation
Harvey was ahead of his time, hiring both women and African Americans in a time when many were discriminated against.
Later, La Posada would be listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide for African American travelers that listed establishments and motels which would welcome them during the Jim Crow era.
For more information on the Green Book, click here. Copies of the Green Book can be viewed online on the Library of Congress website.
From grand hotel to office building–and nearly lost forever
After rail travel waned, La Posada fell into disuse and disrepair. For decades, it seemed doomed to history. Restored in the 1990s by artist Tina Mion and her husband Allan Affeldt, the hotel has become a beacon of cultural preservation.
The hotel now doubles as a museum, featuring striking contemporary art and historic décor that pay homage to the Southwest.
Engaging the next generation
As part of the 2025 Preserve America Youth Summit held in Winslow, AZ, students toured the La Posada Hotel.
Famous visitors
In addition to the thousands of travelers who visited the hotel, La Posada also welcomed famous guests, including Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Jimmy Stewart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Wayne, and Shirley Temple.
La Posada Dining RoomArizona Preservation Foundation
Fine dining with deep roots in Arizona tradition
In its heyday, La Posada was home to a fine dining establishment, said to be the best in the Southwest. Known as The Turquoise Room, the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant blends local ingredients with the legacy of Fred Harvey dining cars.
Turquoise Room, La Posada Hotel (2025) by Lori BentleyArizona Preservation Foundation
The original establishment was lost to time, but the hotel’s current owners have brought it back in the form of a restored fine dining train car that was also designed by architect Mary Colter.
The restaurant marries the past with the present; Executive chef Angel Soto has created a menu that pays homage to traditional Navajo and Hopi cuisine, while retaining a distinctive contemporary flair.
A revival of regional identity
The hotel’s rebirth sparked a wider revitalization of Winslow, helping the town reclaim its place on the map and music charts.
Tap to explore
La Posada BallroomArizona Preservation Foundation
Learn more about La Posada's history, and plan your visit here!
Written by Reese Finnigan. Images sourced by Brook Crowell and Reese Finnigan.
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