This two-story Classical Revival house is located on California Highway 1 just south of Point Arena's small commercial district. It was built at the beginning of the 19th Century as an addition to a house belonging to the owner of an adjacent brewery. A wooden bridge spans Point Area Creek which flows between the building and the street.

The Italian Hotel was located in Point Arena's small red-light district and was operated as a brothel. The red-district remained in business until after World War II, but the Italian Hotel is the only building that survived this period.