John L. Thompson, an American emigrant and successful blacksmith, built his house in 1889 in a simple, one-story vernacular style.

Subsequently, in 1897, the house underwent a significant expansion to become a prominent Queen Anne residence.

The house represents the evolution of architecture in frontier towns, and is one of The Dalles' outstanding examples of the Queen Anne style.

[1] The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

This article about a property in Oregon on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.