Robinson Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Robinson Hotel is located in the former mining town of Julian
, California
, United States
. It was one of the first businesses in San Diego County
to be owned and operated by African-Americans.
. The original hotel was constructed in 1897, with the bakery-restaurant structure having been razed to make room for the hotel. During the construction process, Albert planted cedar and locust trees around the hotel, which survive to the present day.
The hotel has stayed in business for over a hundred years and has repeatedly been expanded and improved, with air conditioning being a major new improvement added in the 21st Century. The building is currently known as the Julian Gold Rush Hotel.
Albert was a former slave who came to Julian with his former slave owner. During the gold rush days of Julian, most of San Diego County's African-Americans lived in remote Julian, rather than the city of San Diego. Another influential black pioneer of the time, and a friend of the Robinson's, was America Newton
.
Albert and Margaret met in Julian, Albert being employed at the time as a cook. They were married in the late 1880's. Albert died on June 10, 1915. Margaret sold the hotel in 1921.
The hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Julian, California
Julian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was one of the first businesses in San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
to be owned and operated by African-Americans.
History
Albert Robinson and Margaret Tull Robinson started, in the 1890's, a business originally entitled the "Robinson Restaurant and Bakery." This business quickly became popular during the relatively brief gold rush that Julian experienced. Their hotel, which is still in operation under a different name, is the oldest continuing operating hotel in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The original hotel was constructed in 1897, with the bakery-restaurant structure having been razed to make room for the hotel. During the construction process, Albert planted cedar and locust trees around the hotel, which survive to the present day.
The hotel has stayed in business for over a hundred years and has repeatedly been expanded and improved, with air conditioning being a major new improvement added in the 21st Century. The building is currently known as the Julian Gold Rush Hotel.
Albert was a former slave who came to Julian with his former slave owner. During the gold rush days of Julian, most of San Diego County's African-Americans lived in remote Julian, rather than the city of San Diego. Another influential black pioneer of the time, and a friend of the Robinson's, was America Newton
America Newton
America Newton was one of the original African American pioneers who helped launch the former mining town of Julian, California. Newton was a former slave who provided laundry services in Julian during its gold rush days and beyond. She resided in Julian for more than 50 years...
.
Albert and Margaret met in Julian, Albert being employed at the time as a cook. They were married in the late 1880's. Albert died on June 10, 1915. Margaret sold the hotel in 1921.
The hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.