The Calkins Hotel was built by C.C. Calkins, a man of grandiose visions for Mercer Island who platted the town of East Seattle and planned to turn it into the place to live in the Pacific Northwest. The beautifully appointed resort hotel was a source of pride for islanders, especially after President Benjamin Harrison stayed there in 1891. Many celebrities and other wealthy people also vacationed there. But the elaborate structure was not destined to last. After suffering several personal tragedies and financial setbacks complicated by the depression of 1893, Calkins left the area for good and his vast island holdings were mortgaged. Then, in 1908, the hotel burned to the ground.

Mercer Island Historical Society