The Dodd-Hinsdale House was built in 1879 for the family of the Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, city mayor.

[2] The Dodd-Hinsdale House was fabricated in 1879[3] in Raleigh, North Carolina, for city mayor, William H. Dodd.

It is a brick house with bracketed eaves, narrow Segmental arch windows, porches, and carved millwork—which are all characteristic of the Italianate style.

[5] The structure is a surviving example of the luxurious and prestigious houses built on Hillsborough Street in the late 19th century, many of which have since been replaced by modern commercial buildings.

On September 9, 1997, it was bought by a private company and turned into a luxury restaurant named "Second Empire," giving recognition to its past and architectural design.