Hotel Arcata
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Occupying a 75-by-115-foot lot at the corner of 9th and G Streets beside the Arcata Plaza, this three-story brick hotel opened in 1915 with 48 rooms. Architect W. H. Weeks of San Francisco gave it cream-colored pressed brick walls, an ornamented metal cornice, inlaid glazed tiles, a marble vestibule and a decorative copper-and-metal marquee. It opened as railroad service reached Humboldt County and shortly before the Redwood Highway brought auto travelers, and it offered electricity, telephones and hot and cold water in every room. Beyond lodging, it served as a gathering place, with a large lobby, a restaurant, sample rooms for traveling salesmen and meeting space for civic groups. Film casts of the 1910s stayed there. Earthquake damage, a 1970s fire and conversion of lobby space to shops have changed parts of it, yet it remains the last hotel building in Arcata, still in use as hotel and shops, and a key part of the Plaza's character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel made a major architectural and commercial contribution to the small city of Arcata. It served travelers brought by the railroad and the Redwood Highway, and hosted civic and social life. It is the last surviving hotel building in Arcata and the work of noted California architect W. H. Weeks.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84000775, listed January 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 708 9th St., Arcata |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | January 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000775 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1915 |
| Architect / builder | W. H. Weeks (architect); contractors George C. Jacobs and Bill Elsemore |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts detailing (minimal) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as essentially unchanged from its original appearance apart from storefront alterations and minor damage; in continuous use as hotel and shops. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.86912, -124.08589 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84000775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682365
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.