The site now known as Chinsegut Hill was staked from the United States government by Colonel Pearson of Columbia, South Carolina, in 1842. Pearson's youngest daughter, Lydia Florida, later became the wife of Governor Fleming of Florida.

Part of the present manor house was build in 1849, with later additions making it the large house it is today. In 1852, Colonel Pearson sold the property to Colonel Francis H. Ederington, and in 1904, Colonel Raymond Robins bought the Hill from the grandchildren of Colonel Ederington, Mallory and Ernest Snow.

Colonel Robins named the porperty "Chinsegut Hill." The word "Chinsegut" comes from the Innuit Indian Tribe, one of the northern-most tribes in Alaska. Its literal meaning is "The Spirit of Lost Things," but the more liberal interpretation of Colonel Robins, who had encountered the word in the far north, was "a place where things of true value that have been lost may be found again." Every Sunday morning, religious services were held for all in the peace and tranquility of the Hill.

In 1924, Chinsegut Hill became the residence of Colonel and Mrs. Robins. They delighted in coming to their home for the winter, following their strenuous work in the north. Mrs. Robins loved growing plants, and always delighted in plants in bloom. Over three hundred rose bushes were planted around the house and in the rose garden. Camellias and azaleas intertwined overhead along the Revelation Trail, which was planned by Colonel Robins to encircle the crown of the Hill so that visitors could enjoy the beauty of Chinsegut Hill with its native flora and fauna. Many of the plants growing in abundance were sold annually at a fair for the benefit of the Young Women's Christian Association.

Mrs. Robins was a gracious, welcoming and talented hostess. Every Thursday afternoon visitors thronged to the stately house and its beautiful gardens. Friendship and hospitality prevailed as the guests enjoyed mingling together. They were served refreshments--with orange juice always included!--in the gardens when the weather permitted.

Mrs. Robins entertained with receptions when she had important guests, in order that her local friends might meet these guests and enjoy their diverse personalities and interests. When Miss Jane Addams visited Chinsegut, more than three hundred and fifty guests were received. The guest register attests that many other well-known personages visited Chinsegut Hill including: William Jennings Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, James Cash (J.C.) Penney and his family, Daniel A. Poling, Sherwood Eddie, Margaret Bondfield (who later became British Secretary of Labor), Harold L. Ickes (Secretary of the Interior of the United States), and Roger Babson. Mrs. Robins entertained the young people of Hernando County with dances at Chinsegut, and helped many students to obtain a college education.

Mrs. Robins was especially active in the field of child labor laws. She was president of the National Women's Trade Union League as well as the International Congress for Working Women. After making Florida her residence, she founded the Hernando County Young Woman's Christian Association, with its bookshop and lending library. She personally paid the salary of a visiting nurse for several years.

Colonel Robins had a colorful career which started when, at the age of ten, he came to Florida from his native Kentucky and liver near Chinsegut Hill on a farm known as Bodine Grove. As a small boy, it became his wish to someday own this hill, then known as "Snow Hill." He left the county at the age of seventeen, worked in coal and lead mines, and went to the Klondike in search of gold. There, as a minister and a social worker, he founded a church and a hospital. Through all these difficult years, Colonel Robins carrried with the memory of the lovely hill for which he yearned. When he returned to Florida from the Klondike, it was with sufficient gold to fulfill his boyhood dream of owning the property.

Colonel Robins studied law in Washington, D.C. and became a social economist. As his fame and reputation grew, he was much in demand as a speaker in universities and colleges. Colonel Robins served as an economic advisor to five presidents. He was honored with the title of colonel for his work with the American Red Cross in Russia during the First World War. When the Russian Revolution broke out, he was the sole Allied representative in Russia. Through his work with the Red Cross, he became acquainted with Lenin and Trotsky, and debated endlessly with Lenin the virtues of democracy as opposed to communism. In 1918, Mrs. Robins plated an acorn on the Chinsegut grounds as the Colonel met with Lenin in Russia. When Mrs. Robins told the Colonel of the planting, he responded, "If it grows, we will call it the Lenin Oak." The Lenin Oak stands majestically on the grounds today.

In 1932, Colonel and Mrs. Robins gave their property to the Federal Government as a Wildlife Refuge, Forest Preserve and Agricultural Experiment Station. It was their wish that the generations to come should be able to see a virgin pine, and to fulfill this wish there is today a 400-acre stand of virgin long leaf pine at Chinsegut. The agricultural experiment station was organized to help the citizens of Hernando County to learn about better cattle breeds, better seeds and improved methods of culture. The Robins family retained the right to live on their hilltop for the rest of their lives. In 1935, Colonel Robins fell while pruning a tree and broke his back, which made him a invalid for the rest of his life. For nineteen years he had to use a wheel chair, but nothing daunted this courageous man. The University of Florida conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Law in an impressive ceremony, which broke all precedent because it was conducted under the spreading limbs of the Alter Oak at Chinsegut Hill, rather than at the university, as is customary. Dr. John Tigert, President of the University and Provost Newell, attended by six members of the faculty, conferred the degree in a ceremony marked with simplicity and dignity, as befitted the character of this distinguished man. Colonel Robins made his acceptance speech from his wheelchair. On this very site, sheltered by the huge limbs of the Altar Oak, both Colonel and Mrs. Robins came to their final resting place. This site had been dear to the heart of each of them as this had been the place where their religious services were held when conditions were permitted and the place where the honorary degree of Docot of Law had been conferred.

With the encouragement of Dr. and Mrs. Robins, the United States Government installed the Central Florida Experiment Station, which is one of the most successful in operation today. In addition, Mrs. Robins had started a Plant Introduction Station during her first years here, and many rare specimens can still be found on the grounds.

Mrs. Robins died in 1945 and Colonel Robins in 1954. The house was used by the University of Florida until 1958 as a branch library, as it contained over 8,000 books, primarily on the subjects of religion and labor. The books were given to the University of Florida Library and most of them have been transferred to Gainesville. Today, the house and the ground of Chinsegut Hill are used by the University of South Florida as a conference and retreat center.