Statement of Significance (as of designation - June 19, 1996):
Originally a private residence commissioned from Little & Browne of Boston for lavish entertaining, this limestone, detached building built between 1902 and 1905, is one of the largest and costliest homes in the city. The 50-room mansion was commissioned by Ambassador (ret.) Larz Anderson and his wife as their home, but planned for its eventual use as national headquarters, museum and library of the Society of the Cincinnati. Anderson was a descendant of a founder of the nation's oldest patriotic order, composed of descendants of Revolutionary War officers. Except for brief periods during World War II it has served as the Society's headquarters since 1938.

In February 2006, the Society of the Cincinnati was awarded a conservation assessment program grant from Heritage Preservation in Washington, DC. The more than $6,000 allocation will pay for two professional assessors--a preservation architect and a collections conservator - to survey the building on a two-day site visit and to submit a general conservation survey. This analysis of the current state of the building, its collections, and all related policies will also provide prioritized recommendations for improving building preservation and collections care.