Roseland Cottage was built in 1846 in the Gothic Revival style as the summer home of Henry Chandler Bowen and family.

In his widely popular books, Downing stressed practicality along with the picturesque, and offered detailed instructions on room function, sanitation, and landscaping.

Four United States Presidents visited Bowen's summer home as his guests and speakers for these celebrations: Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William McKinley.

[4] The home and gardens on one of these occasions were described in a local newspaper in 1887: As one approached the house, the park in front of Roseland Cottage and the entire lawn appeared to be a mass of light with the Japanese lanterns of every conceivable shape hanging from the trees and every object that would support them, and colored lanterns supported upon sticks intermingled with them.

[5]Today the house remains in excellent historic condition, with original Gothic furniture and embossed Lincrusta Walton wall decoration.