Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach (must see)

The Cavalier Hotel holds a distinguished place in the architectural and social history of the area. Constructed in 1927 at 4200 Atlantic Avenue, the hotel was designed by Neff and Thompson, featuring a unique Y-shaped floor plan that allowed most of its rooms to offer stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. From the beginning, the Cavalier was equipped with modern amenities for its time, including private bathrooms in all rooms, sophisticated dining facilities, and diverse shopping opportunities, not to mention the swimming pools that have become standard in today's hotels.

During its heyday, the Cavalier Hotel was more than just a place to stay; it was a significant cultural hub attracting a plethora of celebrities and notable figures. The likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, and sports figures like Muhammad Ali all graced its rooms. It also hosted several U.S. Presidents including Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson, among others. The hotel's allure was amplified by the Cavalier Beach Club, inaugurated on Memorial Day weekend in 1929. This club became a legendary venue for entertainment, drawing major dance bands and performers such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald, thus cementing its status as a cornerstone of Virginia Beach's social scene.

The Cavalier's journey through American history was marked by its role during World War II when it was commandeered by the United States Navy as a training center, only to be returned to its owners in 1945. The interruption caused significant financial strain, and for a period in the 1950s and 1960s, the property functioned as a private club before eventually reopening as a hotel. In recognition of its historical significance and contribution to the heritage of Virginia Beach, The Cavalier Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

Today, The Cavalier Hotel stands as a monument to the Roaring Twenties' era of prosperity and continues to be an emblem of Virginia Beach's development as a resort destination.