Found within the registration area of the Lobby along the upper wall is a series of painted canvas panels. This mural was created in 1938, by artist Hugo Ohlms. Ohlms was “selected to paint nine murals in the Lobby that depicted colonial era Tidewater scenes from the landing at Jamestown to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17). These panels depict scenes from Virginia’s colonial history such as The Landing at Jamestown 1607, Baptism of Pocahontas, Marriage of Pocahontas, The First Representative Government in America 1619, The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown 1781, William and Mary College, Patrick Henry's Address 1765, Women arrive at Jamestown 1619, and Virginia Hospitality.

Background:
“The expansion of Hotel Roanoke during the late nineteenth century reflected the economic success of the Norfolk & Western railroad and the boom town prosperity of the city that headquartered that major steel rail era line” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 14). Both the Northeast Wing and West Wing were developed from this initiative, in the midst of the great depression. The West Wing, replacing “the 1890/1898 west or main wing,” was built by 1938 whereas the Northeast Wing was in 1931, which replaced the “the 1882 frame annex” that was there since 1916 (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 15). In contrast to the Northeast Wing, which was described as representing “architectural continuity, civic pride, and interest in automobile tourism,” the West Wing was promoted as an “architecturally significant modern version of an old English inn” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 16). George B. Post & Sons was the firm in charge of the 1938 renovations design of the West Wing, and selected the “‘Georgian design’ of the Main Dining room, now the Regency Dining Room; the Palm Court, now the Oval Room: and the Grand Ballroom” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17). They also included the new Peacock Alley and the Lobby within the hotel’s new wing. The firm chose “consultants of national stature to furnish and decorate the interior public spaces of the hotel: furnishings by Marshal Field and Company of Chicago; decorating of special rooms by Rambusch Decorating Company of New York City” (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke 17). They also selected artist Hugo Ohlms to paint the nine murals in the Lobby. Certain parts of the West Wing have been renovated since then, but most of its architectural integrity.

About the artist:
Hugo Ohlms was born in Hamburg, Germany. He studied art in Italy before coming to the United States in 1928. He earned graduate degrees at Yale University and later taught art classes in his Ohlms School of Fine Art. Around this time he “worked for Rambusch Studios in New York and headed the mural department for 20 years” (Lane). Ohlms also designed multiple murals for establishments and churches within the United States, Canada, and Newfoundland. One of his most well-known works was at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine where he helped to restore for the city's 400th anniversary in 1965 (Lane).

Sourced from:
Lane, Marcia. “Man behind the Murals.” St. Augustine Record, St. Augustine Record, 6 June 2011, www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2011/06/06/man-behind-murals/16200241007/. Man Behind the Murals

"National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke," United States Department of the Interior National Park Service, 8 Nov. 1995, www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/128-0025_Hotel_Roanoke_1996_Final_Nomination.pdf.
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Roanoke

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