The Gothic Revival-style house was built in 1821 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

The house is now operated as part of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, a 19th-century period farm with living-history demonstrations.

The buildings include the Norlands mansion, a mid-19th-century period schoolhouse, a library with displays about the Washburn family, a meeting house, a farmer's cottage, and a barn with farm animals.

[2] A fire started on April 28, 2008, at the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center.

The fire was likely caused by a lamp tipping over and falling into hay, setting it alight.