La Follette first gained a national political office in 1885, when he entered the U.S. House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party; he remained a representative until 1890, when he lost a reelection bid due in part to ideological differences with party leadership.

La Follette remained a senator until his death; he became known for progressive stances such as the introduction of national regulatory commissions, support for organized labor, and opposition to World War I.

La Follette also considered presidential office during his term as a senator; he was proposed as a Republican candidate in 1908, and he mounted an independent campaign in the 1924 election which carried Wisconsin and earned him one-sixth of the national vote.

La Follette died in 1925 of chronic illness; his wife Belle Case and sons Philip and Robert Jr. remained influential in Wisconsin politics.

The two-story brick house is composed of two sections and features Victorian elements and a projecting bay with a mansard roof.