The house was designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892 and is an example of his early work.

[5] The three bootleg houses were part of a series of homes which had small differences but nearly identical plans.

[6] Thomas H. Gale, a prominent Oak Park citizen, purchased six adjacent lots on Chicago Avenue from his father, Edwin, in 1891 when he married Laura Robeson.

The Thomas Gale House reflects the style of Wright's first teacher Joseph Silsbee.

The side elevations of the Gale House are symmetrical but adjacent buildings are built too close for the design to be seen clearly.

[5] The non-original porch is seen in illustrations in the architectural guide map published by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.

[3] The house is listed as a contributing property to the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District.

[5] The Thomas Gale and Parker Houses in particular represent a more streamlined version of the traditional Queen Anne style design.

The houses incorporate rectilinear features which would later become hallmarks of Wright's fully mature Prairie design.