Building plans and concept work on the hotel started in June 1916 and were overseen by Samuel Shackford Otis.

[2] Construction on Hotel Northland began with foundation pouring in 1920 but was quickly halted due to lack of funding.

The deterioration of the building and a series of rapid name changes (including "Heritage House" in the mid-1970s and "Old Marquette Inn" in 1978) ultimately lead to its closure in 1982, after which it was considered abandoned.

[2][5] In 1995, the hotel property was purchased by Christine and Bruce Pesola for $103,000 (equivalent to $188,000 in 2023[4])[5] and in that same year, a complete renovation of the building began.

[6] Throughout its history, the hotel has hosted many celebrities and historical figures including: Amelia Earhart in 1932, Abbott & Costello in 1942, astronaut Jerry Lineger,[2] and Maya Angelou.