The oldest part of the house is estimated to have been built in 1664 for Francis Norwood, a mariner and early settler of Gloucester.

It remained in the hands of Norwood family descendants until 1879, when Cape Ann Bank took the house by foreclosure.

In 1880 Hyatt used the property as a base for marine research, but abandoned that use, finding it unsuitable, after one season.

It is a 2.5-story wood-frame structure, with its earliest framing members showing evidence of 17th century construction methods.

There are wide pine floors, and the walls and woodwork show many examples of 18th and 19th century construction techniques.