Carroll Mansion facts for kids
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Carroll Mansion
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Carroll Mansion in 2011
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 800 E. Lombard St., Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1811 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Late Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002182 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 25, 1973 |
The Carroll Mansion (also called the Carroll-Caton House or Carroll Mansion Museum) is a historic building and museum in Baltimore, Maryland. It has a long and interesting story, changing from a fancy home to a school and then a museum.
Contents
History of Carroll Mansion
Early Years and Famous Residents
The Carroll Mansion was built around 1811. It stood on a corner that was once a very rich part of Baltimore. In 1818, a man named Richard Caton bought the house for $20,000. He was married to Mary, who was the youngest daughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a very important person. He was one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence. For the last twelve years of his life, Charles Carroll spent his winters in this house. He often had important visitors there. It was also the place where he passed away.
The Caton family lived in the mansion until 1846. After that, no one from their family lived there anymore.
Changes in the Neighborhood
The mansion stayed empty for the next eleven years. In 1855, a group called the Sisters of Mercy bought it. During the time the house was empty, the neighborhood changed a lot. It went from being a very wealthy area to a place where many new families, often immigrants, lived.
The Sisters of Mercy rented out the mansion. The first floor became a saloon, which is like a bar. The second floor was turned into apartments for newcomers. In 1868, the Sisters sold the mansion for only $1,000.
Different Uses Over Time
For the next forty years, the Carroll Mansion was used for many different things. It was a saloon again, and also a furniture store. In 1904, news reports said the mansion was being used as a "sweatshop." This was a place where people worked long hours to make clothing for very little pay.
In 1914, the City of Baltimore took ownership of the mansion. By 1918, it became Baltimore's first vocational school. A vocational school teaches people skills for specific jobs. The mansion's large rooms were used as classrooms. The grounds around the house had shops for different trades. Students could learn skills like tailoring, printing, and auto mechanics. The school operated until 1928.
Restoration and Museum Life
In 1928, the Carroll Mansion was fixed up and opened to the public. It had exhibits of old and valuable items called antiques.
More big renovations happened in 1935. The mansion got new features like showers, indoor toilets, and a new heating system. From 1937 to 1954, it was used as The Carroll Mansion Recreation Center. After that, its doors closed again.
In the 1960s, there were plans to tear down the mansion. A gas station was going to be built in its place. But the people of Baltimore protested these plans. When Theodore McKeldin became mayor in 1962, he promised to save the historic Carroll Mansion.
After a lot of hard work to restore it, the Carroll Mansion opened again in 1967. It became a museum. The museum started collecting antiques to show what the mansion looked like in the 1820s and 1830s. This was when the Caton and Carroll families lived there.
In 1985, the mansion became part of the Baltimore City Life Museums. The collection grew to include old wallpaper, paint, china, silver, and furniture from the 1820s and 1830s. The mansion was a museum for thirty years, from 1967 to 1997. Then, its doors closed once more.
The museum stayed closed until 2002. That's when Carroll Museums, Inc. reopened it. The Carroll Museum is still open today. You can take tours and see changing art exhibits there.
Architecture of the Mansion
The Carroll Mansion is a great example of Federal Period architecture in Baltimore. This style was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. It often features simple, elegant designs. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historic site.
