In many ways, the history of Colonel Jehiel Brooks' home mirrors the history of Brookland. Brooks Mansion anchored the growing neighborhood of Brookland and served as a focus for the B&O Railroad stop. In 1891, the mansion was sold to the Marist Society, after which it passed into the hands of the Benedictine Sisters. Finally, after being threatened with demolition, it was bought by the Washington, DC, government and used for an extension campus for the University of the District of Columbia.

At present, the Brooks Mansion seems to have weathered--thanks to concerted citizen action--another spate of threatened demolitions. These are proposals for use as a community center and neighborhood archives.

Built circa 1840, Brooks Mansion was placed on the DC and National Registers in 1975.