Washington, D.C., is a unique tourist destination where people from all over the world come to experience the center of American power, influence politics, and witness history. In the book 'Palácios do Público,' John DeFerrari studies the fascinating evolution of these visitors' accommodations. This history spans from 18th-century taverns and antebellum boarding houses to the emergence of the modern hotel.
The work pays special attention to the growing tension between accessibility and exclusivity that has characterized US hotels since their inception. Furthermore, the book analyzes the impact of preserving historical heritage on Washington's most iconic hotels.
The vivid and richly illustrated edition 'Palácios do Público' offers a unique perspective on the development of the culture and society of the capital over time. Critically reviewing the work, Chris Myers Ash noted that John DeFerrari masterfully uses an extensive reservoir of local knowledge to tell a captivating story of the city's transformation, from early 19th-century taverns and boarding houses to the boutique hotels and full-service chains of the 21st-century global metropolis.
The book's structure includes sections dedicated to 18th-century taverns and boarding houses, hotels from the pre- and Civil War eras, Gilded Age palaces for a world power, major early 20th-century hotels, and also analyzes the development of the tourism sector. It also examines African American hotels and the sense of community pride, as well as the rise and fall of women's hotels and Washington's hotels from the WWII period to the 21st century.