It is named after Colonel Henry Darnall, a wealthy Roman Catholic planter, who was the Proprietary Agent of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore and who served for a time as Deputy Governor of the Province.

The tract of land the house sits on was patented in 1704[citation needed] by Col. Henry Darnall (1645–1711),[3] a wealthy Maryland Roman Catholic planter, Proprietary Agent of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore and, for a time, Deputy Governor of Maryland.

In 1741, the Carrolls sold 63⁄4 acres of their land to James Wardrop, a Scottish merchant.

In the mid-19th century, the house was remodeled to two stories, of stuccoed brick, with Italianate and Greek Revival stylistic elements.

The major alterations to the property were probably carried out under the ownership of Edward Grafton W. Hall, who owned it between 1857 and 1887.

The tour at Darnall's Chance focuses on the life of Lettice Lee, as she lived in the house for almost thirty years, married three times, and was an unusual 18th-century woman.

It also includes more general information on the other women who lived at Darnall's Chance and in Prince George's County at that time.