Built for $1.9 million, an unimaginable fortune when it opened in 1910, the 437-room US Grant was the opulent vision of the late president’s son, Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., who believed that this Southern California city needed a fine hotel.
The US Grant History
The hotel debuted with an all-day ceremony that drew the cream of California society, who marveled at the Italian marble lobby, balustrades of alabaster, and sweeping views out to Coronado Island from the hotel’s Palm Court. But over the decades, the US Grant went through tough times, as changing travel patterns and economic downturns took their toll on many grand downtown hotels. The property weathered the Great Depression and World War II, when it housed military personnel, and later struggled as travelers increasingly favored newer motels and resorts outside the city center. By the latter half of the 20th century, parts of the once-glamorous hotel had grown dated and in need of restoration.
The US Grant Renovation
Thankfully, a major restoration by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which bought the hotel in 2003, removed decades of modifications and renovations to reveal the hotel’s original finery. The extensive, multimillion-dollar project carefully restored historic details throughout the property, from ornate moldings and grand chandeliers to the elegant marble lobby and stately public spaces. Designers worked to balance preservation with modern comforts, updating guest rooms and infrastructure while honoring the building’s early-20th-century character.
In-room details include original drip painting headboards by artist Yves Clement as well as an extensive collection of authentic Native American art, as well as Kumeyaay exhibits in the lobby, that reflects the heritage of the hotel’s owners. The restoration also revitalized the hotel’s grand ballrooms and meeting spaces, returning them to their former glamour and making the property once again a centerpiece for social events, weddings, and civic gatherings in downtown San Diego.
Grant Grill Lounge
For a craft cocktail and a little something to nibble—perhaps a toasted cheese sandwich (aged fontina, rosemary bread, speck ham, and balsamic tomatoes)—relax in the Art Deco sleekness of the Grant Grill Lounge.