Standing on its limestone foundation, this Italianate hotel is still a major attraction for SouthEast Kansas. Former Wilson County Sheriff Samuel Baughman had it built in the mid 1880s. In 1905 the classically styled wooden porch was restyled, having the fret frieze replaced with a solid entablature. Then in 1965 it was remodeled to include twenty-eight rooms and six apartments. Gold Dust, Inc., a nonprofit organization, purchased the hotel in 1986. Since then the original floor plan on the first floor has been restored and improvements have been made to prevent deterioration.

 

On May 16, 1991 the majestic hotel was listed on the National Registration of Historic Places. New renovations to the interior by Cohen-Esrey have been made to convert the hotel into affordable housing apartments.