Hoardings are to go up around Huddersfield's iconic hotel as preparatory work gets underway on the massive renovation of the site.
It marks the latest stage in the revival of the 1850s building, which was bought by Kirklees Council earlier this yea r for £1.8m.
It is destined to be the home of the new National Rugby League Museum.
The Grade II*-listed George is a key element of the council's so-called town centre blueprint - a 10-year £250m project aimed at reinvigorating Huddersfield.
The setting up of hoardings will be followed by a first phase of works, which will include the removal of asbestos and efforts to ensure the 170-year-old hotel is safe and watertight.
Clr Peter McBride, the council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "Carrying out these initial works will help us to protect [the George] for the future.
"We will be working with the new National Rugby League Museum’s shadow board to deliver our ambition to bring rugby league home.
"We want to make sure this building is in the best possible state to honour one of the country’s favourite sports and play homage to the place it all began."
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Work on stripping out the hotel began in July. However it is not set to be fully renovated until 2024 - meaning it will not be ready for next year's Rugby League World Cup.
The council is partnering with the Rugby Football League, the charity Rugby League Cares and the University of Huddersfield on the museum project.
The university's Heritage Quay is home to the Rugby Football League Archive, and parts of the collection will be used as part of a world-class visitor attraction.
Clr McBride added: "Bringing the George back into use will not only help preserve part of rugby league history, but also provide opportunities for increased footfall in the town.
"We are sure to attract rugby fans from across the country, and even the world."
The project to restore the building on St George's Square has received grant funding of £2m from Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone fund as well as £1.4m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Additional funding will come from the council as part of its £100m investment in the Huddersfield and Dewsbury Blueprints.
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The George Hotel is famed for being the birthplace of rugby league on August 29, 1895.
A plaque on the exterior of the building reads: "In this place 21 clubs voted to break away from the Rugby Football Union and set up the Northern Rugby Football Union. In 1922 this became the Rugby Football League."