Its ground-floor public rooms are richly adorned in the grand hotel style, unique to Oakland and among the city's most exquisite interior spaces.

The proposal for the hotel dates back to 1906, prompted by the San Francisco earthquake and fire, which redirected much of the city's commerce to Oakland.

This shift presented an opportunity for Oakland's business community, which aimed to position the city as a strong competitor to San Francisco.

However, financial setbacks and Hardenburgh's travel difficulties led to Bliss and Faville taking over, with Purdy and Henderson of Seattle serving as consulting engineers.

Walker, and the hotel officially opened on December 23, 1912, with a grand dinner and ball attended by 1,150 guests, including local dignitaries and social elites.

Despite financial challenges that delayed the completion of the upper floors, the hotel became a prominent social hub in the East Bay, hosting significant events like a 1919 ball attended by 4,000 people and conventions such as the California Republican Assembly and the American Legion.

Notable guests included Presidents Wilson, Coolidge, and Hoover, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Sarah Bernhardt, and Jean Harlow.