History lovers and preservationists now have an extra, special reason to visit Historic Hotels of America member, Wentworth By the Sea Hotel & Spa. The hotel, as the National Trust website points out, is a Preservation Success Story. Rescued from the wrecking ball and its place on the National Trust's �Most Endangered Sites� list, Wentworth reopened last summer and is now making plans to celebrate the Centennial of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth (the hotel hosted the Russian and Japanese peace conference delegates), while recognizing its own 130th birthday. It's a stirring story for anyone interested in the preservation of American historic sites -- and it's a story that has been told by local historian, J. Dennis Robinson in the just-published Wentworth By the Sea: The Life and Times of a Grand Hotel. Those who reserve the �Wentworth History Package� (starting at $299*) receive a copy of the richly-illustrated 230-page book, along with the chance to experience this historic hotel -- the only grand seaside resort left standing on the New Hampshire coast. The package includes luxury accommodations and dinner for two in the Wentworth Dining Room or waterfront Latitudes. Last spring and summer, writer J. Dennis Robinson talked with dozens of people with stories or artifacts to share about one of New Hampshire's oldest grand resort hotels while researching his book chronicling the 1874 New Castle 'grand hotel.' A collaboration between Ocean Properties, the company that re-opened the famous hotel last June, and the Friends of the Wentworth, the nonprofit agency that helped save the endangered building from extinction, the book includes more than 200 illustrations drawn from a collection of documents and photos currently archived at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. "It's a compelling history," Robinson says, "and one that I've been interested in since I met the former owners back in the early 1980s. I found some unique anecdotes, records and images to flesh out the story." Wentworth By the Sea's $27 million restoration added an 8,500 sq. ft. Spa wing with indoor pool and jacuzzi, fireplaces in 18 of the guest suites, and the waterfront hideaway Little Harbor Marina Suites. Awarded the American Institute of Architects' �Award of Excellence,� AAA's Four Diamond award, and National Trust for Historic Preservation recognition, the 161-room hotel has incorporated the three distinctive original Victorian towers and as many architectural details as could be salvaged. Guests in the Wentworth Dining Room savor Executive Chef Dan Dumont's �new New England cuisine� and the view of Little Harbor that Yankee magazine cited as one of New England's best �dining with a view� choices while dining beneath an original hand-painted ceiling mural of cherubs and garlands. For information or reservations, visit www.wentworth.com or www.historichotels.org or call tollfree 866-240-6313.
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