The courthouse is recorded as holding the first court case in what would become the Washington Territory and being the first building to sustain preservation efforts in the state.

After moving to the Oregon Territory in 1844 and marrying Matilda Nettle Glover Coontz in 1848,[5] John originally built a small cabin in 1845,[6] proceeding to construct a larger house for his family in 1850.

[5] Matilda created a hotel on the homestead and over the years, the family welcomed such guests as Ulysses S. Grant and Civil War generals, George McClellan and Philip Sheridan.

Considered a long-term project, it included the rebuild of the chimney and porch foundation, as well as replacing some logs in the structure and removing various types of graffiti.

[6] Despite a record from October 4, 1847 regarding a county tax assessment roll that Jackson submitted from his home to the Lewis County commissioner board,[10] researchers found earlier evidence that the home of Judge S.S. Ford on Ford's Prairie near Claquato, Washington may have been the first courthouse in Washington state.

[9] Jackson was the first elected sheriff in Lewis County in 1847 and he served as one of 44 delegates at the Monticello Convention which led to the creation of the Washington Territory.

[10] His role as a public servant continued, serving as a judge, assessor and tax collector, and as a Washington Territory representative during his time at the homestead; his duties supplemented by also working as a census worker and as a local butcher.

[6][3] The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1974,[1] however it was under review until additional documentation regarding the history of the courthouse could be found.

[8] A 2016 supplementary review of the heritage status discovered additional historical information on the house, increasing the revised file ten-fold.

[4] The site was relisted on the NRHP in 2017 citing the courthouse's significance during the pre-automobile era and its role as a rest stop, the pioneering history of the Jackson family, and the connection the homestead has to the St. Helen's Club and other women's organizations.

A cobblestone wall and archway were added in 1922, which included a plaque, during improvements completed by the Washington State Historical Society.

Displayed in the Jackson Courthouse is the original flag crafted by Matilda and other homesteaders from within the area that marked the creation of the Washington Territory.