The original structure, designed by Calvert Vaux in a blend of tudor and gothic styling, was built in 1874 as a boathouse. Under the direction of E.L. Holmes, the Casino was enlarged in 1885 to meet the ever-growing popularity of the area.
Destroyed by fire around 1899 - 1900, the Casino was rebuilt in time to be a part of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The Mediterranean style 3-story building was the design of Buffalo architect E.B. Green, and officially became known as the Delaware Park Casino.