The National Hotel
- Year
- 1940
- Style
- Art Deco
- City
- Miami, FL
- Collection
- ocean drive deco
The National Hotel opened in 1939 on Collins Avenue in South Beach, a 14-story Art Deco tower topped with a silver-painted cupola and designed by Roy France, who is credited with shaping much of Miami Beach's skyline. France built the hotel around his own stated philosophy: "Let in the air and sun. That's what people come to Florida for." Fully renovated in 2014, the National is a National Register of Historic Places contributing property and a member of the Historic Hotels of America program.
the building
The 205-foot pool. The National's iconic 205-foot-long swimming pool runs the depth of the property, flanked by vintage travel-themed rooms and original mosaic tile murals by Jazz Age artist Tamara de Lempicka.
The silver cupola. The 14-story Historic Tower is capped by a cupola painted silver, one of the hotel's signature details along the Collins Avenue skyline.
the style
Roy France designed the National in the Art Deco style that defined 1930s Miami Beach, one of many hotels he built along the coast in both Art Deco and later Postwar Modern idioms. His stated philosophy — "Let in the air and sun" — guided his approach to hotel design across the city.
More on Art Decothe architect
Roy France was an American architect credited with creating much of Miami Beach's skyline, having designed many of the city's hotels in both Art Deco and Postwar Modern styles.
significance
The National Hotel is a National Register of Historic Places contributing property and a member of the Historic Hotels of America program. It underwent a full renovation in 2014, and during the COVID-19 pandemic it closed for nearly a year to redo all 116 rooms and suites in the Historic Tower along with its 36 Cabana units.
nearby
- Ritz Plaza Hotel
- Sagamore Hotel South Beach
- San Juan Hotel
- Hotel Di Lido
- Delano Hotel
- The Gale Hotel