It was in 1857 the Dunlop family first came to Baddeck.  The head of the family, David A. Dunlop, a native of Scotland was employed to lay the first Atlantic telegraph cable from Newfoundland to Cape North. He then laid the over land cable to Port Hastings. During this time, Mrs. Dunlop recognized the need for a boarding house in Baddeck. They built the hotel and as the telegraph office was located here, it was appropriately named “The Telegraph House”. The hotel first opened its doors in 1861 and has been in continuous operation serving tired travelers ever since.