Editing Divine Lorraine Hotel (section)

== Father Divine Era ==

Father Divine, the charismatic leader of the International Peace Mission Movement, acquired the building in 1948, transforming it into headquarters for his religious organization and renaming it the Divine Lorraine Hotel. The building became one of the first hotels in Philadelphia to welcome guests regardless of race, reflecting Father Divine's teachings on racial equality. The Peace Mission operated the hotel as a residence for followers and a statement of the movement's presence, with Father Divine's personal quarters occupying the upper floors.<ref name="weigley"/>

Father Divine's tenure transformed both the building's purpose and its meaning. The elaborate interiors that had served Gilded Age guests now housed a religious community whose values emphasized simplicity and service. The building's prominent location made it a visible symbol of the Peace Mission's presence in Philadelphia, while its integrated policies challenged the racial segregation that characterized most American hotels of the era. Father Divine's death in 1965 began a long decline that would eventually leave the building vacant and deteriorating.<ref name="gallery"/>