Hotel Arcata opened in 1915 at approximately the same time that the Northwestern Pacific Railroad initiated passenger rail service to Humboldt County and a decision was made to permanently locate Humboldt State Normal School in Arcata (now Humboldt State University). Shortly thereafter, in 1920, the opening of the Redwood Highway ("101") brought auto touring traffic to the area. The Hotel Arcata quickly became known as the finest lodging facility in the region. As a result the casts of the 1916 filming of the "Hazards of Helen" and 1917 "Valley of the Giants" stayed at the Hotel. Numerous other celebrities have also stayed at the Hotel Arcata over the years. The Hotel Arcata also has a long standing tradition of being the meeting place for travelers and locals alike. Traveling salesmen used the meeting rooms to show their wares and business owners held important meetings in the hotel. Mr. Devlin, an early desk clerk, was particularly hospitable and made locals feel welcome in the lobby (a tradition that exits today). As a result, young people gathered in the lobby to socialize and reporters gathered news of guests and town folks. In 1986, the Hotel Arcata was completely renovated at a cost of $1.2 million. In 1990, Big Lagoon Rancheria, an American Indian government organization established in 1918, acquired the total ownership of the Hotel Arcata and reopened it in May 1991. At the time, Hotel Arcata was the first off-reservation Native American owned hotel in California. The renovated hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Today, under the management of the Big Lagoon Rancheria, the Hotel Arcata is continuing the high standards and the friendliness of staff that the hotel has been known for since 1915.