It was built c. 1867 by Henry Rengstorff, a prominent local businessman who operated a ferry between San Francisco and Mountain View.

The house's three-bay front facade features an entrance pavilion topped by a balustrade and a pediment on the middle bay.

[3] In 1976 Frederick Woods, and James and Richard Schoenfeld launched their plan to preserve the mansion and make it their private residence at the intersection of Middlefield Road and Independence Street, to realize a dream of living in a grand, fully restored and modernized Victorian mansion.

[5] When all the children and their bus driver were able to escape, they were arrested and sentenced to life in prison, ending this plan for the house.

[4]: 139 [8] It has since been used as a museum and to host weddings and miscellaneous events; as of 2023[update] it is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays or Online 24/7 via 3D tour [10] .