This building, designed by New Haven architect Henry Austin, was the home of Yale University geology professor James Dwight Dana (1813–95).

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 for its association with Dana, who produced the first published works emphasizing that the study of geology was a much broader discipline than the examination of individual rocks.

[2][3] The Dana House consists of three roughly rectangular painted brick sections, 2+1⁄2 stories in height, with a low-pitch hip roof.

The main block, apparently adapted from a stock pattern by New Haven architect Henry Austin, has a three-bay front facade, with a single-story porch extending across its width, supported by turned posts.

[2][1] It is a contributing building in the Hillhouse Avenue Historic District, which was defined in 1985 to extend south of Trumbull Street to include this property.