Located on Main Street in the center of Castine's historic district, the house is two blocks from the harbor. It stands between the oldest operating U.S. Post Office and the Castine Inn.

With four bedrooms and three baths, it can very comfortably sleep six people. The house has a fully-stocked kitchen (oven, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, dishes, silverware), a dining room with seating for eight, reliable Wi-Fi, TV with internet access and DVD player, washer & dryer, outdoor deck, and off-street parking.

The residence was built by Colonel Jonathan Lowder and his wife, Deliverance Cook. Colonel Lowder, a soldier in the French War and the Revolution (who in 1779 was imprisoned in Quebec as a spy), was appointed Excise Officer in Castine, then called Penobscot, in 1789. The house has been renovated and furnished to maintain its historical character while offering the comfort of modern conveniences.

Castine has a number of historic sites and parks (including the ruins of British earthworks at Fort George), a deep water harbor (with moorings for small boats beyond the current of the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers). Attractions include a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, kayak rentals, a nature preserve with trails, beaches, shops, and restaurants. In addition, the town has a public library, an active historical society, the Wilson Museum, a weekly farmers market, and a charming lighthouse. Castine's streets are lined with 18th and 19th century houses, and shaded by large elms. Next door to the Lowder house is the Castine Post Office - opened in 1814, it is reportedly the oldest in continuous operation in the United States.