The house, originally a 13th-century castle, was extensively altered during the 18th century by German architect Richard Cassels, starting in 1731 and finishing in 1741.

King James I of England (d. 1625) on 27 October 1603 granted a lease of the manor of Powerscourt for 21 years to Sir Richard Wingfield for a rent of £6 Irish and a knight's fee.

It is a popular tourist attraction, and includes Powerscourt Golf Club, an Avoca Handweavers restaurant, and an Autograph Collection Hotel.

The original owner of the 13th-century castle was an Anglo-Norman nobleman by the name of La Poer, which surname was eventually anglicised to "Power."

Using the commanding hilltop position, Cassels deviated slightly from his usual sombre style, giving the house something of what Sir John Vanbrugh would have called the 'castle air.'

In the 1830s, the house was the venue for a number of conferences on unfulfilled Bible prophecies, which were attended by men such as John Nelson Darby and Edward Irving.

When young Lord Powerscourt reached the age of 21, he embarked on an extensive renovation of the house and created the new gardens.

Tara's Palace Museum of Childhood relocated from Malahide Castle near Dublin to Powerscourt House in June 2011.

In 1858, The 7th Viscount Powerscourt established a deer park around the waterfall, resulting in the successful introduction of the Japanese Sika to Ireland.

While the distance is not prohibitive, walking can be dangerous, as the road is narrow, and lacks a shoulder for long stretches.

The 203 bedroom hotel was constructed by Sisk Group on behalf of Treasury Holdings in 2007 at an estimated cost of €200m.

[6] Emblematic of the Celtic Tiger years, a photo of the hotel even featured on the front cover of the Anglo Irish Bank 2007 annual report.