Francis Marion Hotel
Charleston, United States
Built 1924 · Last completed renovation 1999
Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston was last renovated in 1999, and originally built in 1924 (sourced renovations: 1996, 1999). Its HotelChrono freshness score is 0.6/10 — every date linked to a cited source.
Renovation forecast · estimate
Likely due for renovation now
Past its typical ~3-year renovation cycle. A model estimate, not a sourced fact.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Location
Satellite view · Charleston, United States
Timeline
1924
Hotel opened as the largest and grandest in the Carolinas
1996
$12 million restoration; National Trust for Historic Preservation award winner;
1999
Renovation completed
How this score is computed
Every figure here traces back to the sourced renovation year above — no hidden weighting, no black box. Recompute it yourself. See the full methodology →
What changed in the 1999 renovation
“In 1996, an extensive restoration earned the hotel the esteemed National Trust Award and once again the Francis Marion opened its doors as Charleston's Grand Hotel.”— source · retrieved 2026-09-17
Scope is quoted verbatim from the cited source — we never guess what a renovation covered.
Facts
Stars
4★
Built
Sourced1924
Last completed renovation
Sourced1999
Renovation history (sourced)
Sources record multiple renovations (1996–1999). The Chrono Score uses the most recent completed one.
Sources
Our iron rule: no quote, no data. Every date links back to the exact sentence it came from.
“In 1996, an extensive restoration earned the hotel the esteemed National Trust Award and once again the Francis Marion opened its doors as Charleston's Grand Hotel.”
“Meticulously restored in 1996 with a $12 million National Trust for Historic Preservation award winning restoration”
“Named for General Francis Marion, the 'Swamp Fox' of the American Revolution, the hotel opened in 1924 as the largest and grandest in the Carolinas.”
“When it opened to the public on February 7, 1924, the Francis Marion was the tallest hotel in the Carolinas, standing with a steel frame structure and Beaux-Arts architectural features.”
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Frequently asked
When was Francis Marion Hotel built?+
Francis Marion Hotel (Charleston, United States) was built in 1924.
How old is Francis Marion Hotel?+
Francis Marion Hotel is 102 years old — it was built in 1924 and last renovated in 1999. Age measures the building; the Chrono Score measures how fresh it feels today.
When was Francis Marion Hotel last renovated?+
Its most recent completed renovation was in 1999.
What is the Chrono Score of Francis Marion Hotel?+
Its Chrono Score is 0.6/10 (Tired) — a pure freshness metric, separate from its 4-star rating.