When the Clarke Hotel was dedicated in February 1914, it was hailed as a triumph of local initiative. It was designed by architect C.W. Way and built by the John Hamper Company, both of Hastings. Bricks made in Hastings formed the exterior of the building, and local craftsmen made everything from the terra cotta trim and manqué awnings to the light fixtures, oak millwork and mosaic floors. A 1916 addition to the six-story Renaissance Revival style building expanded its size to 170 "absolutely fireproof" rooms and included a ballroom with seating for 300. Many notables visited the luxury hotel, including former President John F. Kennedy. In 1987 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.