Built in 1851, it is a fine example of the work of architect John Notman who helped popularize Italianate architecture in America.

The house is a two-story stone structure, built out of rustically cut sandstone, with a three-story tower at one end, and a single-story service wing.

Prior to its construction, the site had been that of a farm whose house had hosted George Washington both during and after the American Revolutionary War.

The new house was designed by John Notman, a Scottish architect based in Philadelphia who is credited with introducing the Italianate style of architecture to the United States.

[3] In 1878, it was acquired by brothers Alexander and Robert Stuart, who gave it to the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University and served as the house of the school president.