The Proprietary House was constructed by architect John Edward Prior for the Board of Proprietors of East New Jersey between 1762 and 1764 as an elegant two-story brick dwelling to entice the Royal Governor of the provinces of East and West Jersey to settle in their capitol city, Perth Amboy. One of the unique features of the original design was the use of white bricks at the first floor level of the principal (east) façade. In 1773 it became the home of William Franklin, the last royal governor of New Jersey and the son of Benjamin Franklin who was arrested from the house in June 1776. During the American Revolution, the house was occupied by squatters and vandalized as a symbol of the British government, and lay in ruins at the end of the war.

Partially reconstructed in the 1780s, the property was sold in 1809 to a group of investors who added a third floor and one of two projected wings as part of a plan to convert the building into a resort hotel. Alternating between public and private use during the 19th century, the building was converted to a rooming house in the early 20th century until it was purchased by the State of New Jersey in 1967. Subsequent renovations during the 1970s and 80s saw the interior remodeled to a museum devoted to the history of the house, and rental offices. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The project consisted of the preparation of a historic structure report that documented the history of the house, existing conditions, problems of repair, and presented recommendations for long-term care and future restoration strategies.