The house was built around 1840 by Robert Clark, an Englishman who sought the peace and quiet of the countryside as a contrast to the crowded city life Washington, D.C.

In 1875, the property was purchased by General Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a well-connected figure known for his influential social circle.

Beale also entertained other prominent figures of the time, including President Grover Cleveland and the famous showman Buffalo Bill Cody.

The house is architecturally notable for its imposing presence, emphasized by its foot-thick brick walls and commanding hilltop location.

A significant addition to the house is the massive pillared porch that wraps around three sides of the building, which was added by Admiral Chauncey Thomas after he purchased the property in 1895.