The first major building in Fargo was the Headquarters Hotel constructed by the Northern Pacific Railroad to house guests, government offices, and to serve as the railroad station.

The hotel was on the other side of the NP railroad tracks from where the present NP depot sits.

The hotel was completed in the fall of 1872 and the first manager of the hotel was W. Hubert Smith. The hotel burned down on the morning of September 22, 1874, by a fire that started in the kitchen. The hotel was completely rebuilt in just 90 days by Evantine Sobieski Tyler and N.K. Hubbard. By 1880, the hotel manager was W.H. Witt.

For more about the Headquarters Hotel, please continue here.