The prefabricated house was shipped from Maine and constructed on 7 feet (2.1 m) off the ground, raised on ten piers.

The 1+1⁄2-story house was topped with a cupola, where Williams installed a telescope so that he could be one of the first to learn when interesting cargo arrived by ship.

In April 1838, Williams was named one of five directors of the company, which had permission to sell shares that could be redeemed for land or resold.

[9] Like most of the wealthier residents in the city, Williams wished to live along the banks of McKinney's Bayou.

His 22 acres (8.9 ha) lot was located near the bayou at 35th Street and Avenue A,[8] about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the town.

[8] To allow the house to better weather storms, it was elevated 7 feet (2.1 m) on ten brick piers.

Classical wood columns supported the porch roof, and a white picket fence surrounded the house.

A detached brick kitchen was in the rear, and on either side of the house were 10 acres (4.0 ha) garden plots.

[11] At this time, Galveston Island had few trees or tall buildings, and from the widow's walk Williams could see the Gulf.

It was customary for ships to flash signals as they approached land to inform the harbormaster of the types of cargo they carried.

Partially as a result of this tactic, the McKinney & Williams commission house "was considered one of the wealthiest and most influential establishments in Texas".

[10] In the 1950s, the "Free State of Galveston" collapsed as law enforcement worked to eradicate corruption and illegal activity.

[18] The Galveston Historic Foundation (GHF) was established in this decade, primarily to save the Williams house.

The foundation had been established by Galveston resident William Lewis Moody Jr. to support educational, scientific, religious, and health institutions in Texas.

[10] The GHF conducted extensive research in 1978 to determine the house's appearance during Williams' lifetime.

New audiovisual systems and technology are expensive and, as with most historic house museums, a limited budget made it difficult to adapt.

Many of these, including oleanders, daylilies, hibiscus, plumbago, agapanthus, and bougainvillea, were relocated to the grounds around the Williams house.

[4] After closing its doors to the public, the house was used by the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers as a showcase.

[23] The redesigned house features wood floors, stenciling in the entryway, and faux crown molding in the dining room.

The house inspired a generation of active, public-spirited Galvestonians to found what has grown into the largest local historic preservation group in the nation — an organization that has had a profound effect on our community.

Homebuilder Insignia Homes chose six historic Texas houses, and built luxury replicas in a single neighborhood.

[Notes 2] Although the exterior is almost identical to the original Williams house, the interiors were redesigned to be more modern.