PADUCAH, Ky.
The 1857 Hotel opened in Paducah, Ky., a UNESCO Creative City, housed in a renovated red-brick antebellum building that originally served as a gentlemen's haberdashery and an adjoining turn-of-the-century tractor repair shop. The hotel's well-preserved facade belies its contemporary interior. The circa-1857 building contains most guest rooms while the tractor shop serves as a bar and event space.
The hotel offers easy access to the pedestrian-friendly town's attractions, beginning with the Carson Center for performing arts, the National Quilt Museum and Paducah Wall to Wall floodwall murals.
Diverse culinary offerings include hotspots such as Freight House restaurant, Tribeca Mexican Cuisine, JP's Bar & Grill, Dry Ground Brewing Company, Kitchens Café at Paducah School of Art & Design, Paducah Beer Werks, Cup of Pipers Tea & Coffee and Silent Brigade Distillery.
An artist's haven, Paducah is home to a number of galleries, such as Make and Ephemera, both of which offer hands-on experiences. The Yeiser Art Center and River Discovery Center invite visitors to explore two vital aspects of Paducah's culture and development. Nearby shops offer antiques and more.
"The building found us rather than us finding it," said Paul Gourieux, a Paducah restaurateur who developed and owns the hotel with his partner Jorge Martinez. "Every day leaving work we'd see this empty building, and it distressed us to watch it deteriorating … it was a mess [when we purchased it].”
Gourieux handled the design while Martinez served as general contractor of the property, which they decided should have a contemporary look that let the architecture speak for itself. Gourieux chose unique pieces and furnishings for every space, resulting in 10 no-two-alike guest rooms. Such individuality also accommodates the local art that hangs throughout on a rotating basis.
"We have a small gallery in the restaurant," Gourieux said. “So we already had strong relationships with artists, but the scale of hotel walls allows us to hang larger pieces that couldn't fit in the restaurant."
Average room rates for The 1857 Hotel start at $105 for a Queen Suite and $165 for a Double Queen Suite. The property contains an event space that is ideal for corporate events and receptions.
The entire hotel can also be rented out for one-of-a-kind special event.
