[1] It was built in 1830–32 by Peter Mowry, a physician, and was originally part of a large estate that was subdivided into residential lots in 1872.

The house is notable as a rare example of relatively well preserved Greek Revival architecture in Pittsburgh, and exemplifies the typical pattern of development in Lawrenceville in the mid to late 19th century.

[2] After her death, the property was sold to a partnership called Carnegie & Co., which divided it into about 244 residential lots and offered them for sale starting in 1872.

Most of the other old houses in the area were demolished during this period as they did not fit conveniently into the new plats, but the Mowry-Addison mansion remained standing on a five-lot parcel.

After this, it housed the Pittsburgh Electric Club until 2004, when it was purchased by Carnegie Commons LLC for use as architectural offices.