Montpelier Mansion (Laurel, Maryland) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Montpelier
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

Montpelier in May 2007
Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Laurel, Maryland
Area	110 acres (45 ha)
Built	1748 or 1783
Architectural style	Georgian
NRHP reference No.	70000852
Added to NRHP	April 17, 1970
Designated NHL	April 15, 1970

Montpelier Mansion is a beautiful old house located near Laurel, Maryland. It's also known as the Snowden-Long House or just Montpelier. This large home was built in the Georgian style, probably between 1781 and 1785.

Major Thomas Snowden and his wife Anne built the mansion. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and a house museum. This means it's a special place protected for its history and open for people to visit. The house and about 70 acres (28 ha) of land remain from a much larger property. In 1970, Montpelier was named a National Historic Landmark because of its amazing architecture.

The Story of Montpelier Mansion
Famous People Who Visited Montpelier
What Does Montpelier Mansion Look Like?
Images for kids
See also

The Story of Montpelier Mansion

Montpelier Mansion has a long and interesting history, starting with the Snowden family who built it.

Who Built Montpelier?

The Snowden family came to America from England in 1658. Over time, they became very successful. Richard Snowden, known as the "iron master," earned a lot of money from an iron forge. His grandson, Major Thomas Snowden (1751–1803), was a soldier in the American Revolution. Major Thomas married Anne Ridgely. Anne grew up in another estate also called Montpelier, located in Fulton, Maryland. Together, Major Thomas and Anne built this Montpelier Mansion around 1783.

Owners Through the Years

After Major Thomas and Anne, their son Nicholas Snowden owned the mansion. He was born there in 1786 and lived there until he passed away in 1831.

The house then went to Nicholas's daughter, Julianna Maria. She married Dr. Theodore Jenkins at the mansion in 1835. After Dr. Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins passed away, their children owned the house until 1890.

Later, the mansion had several different owners. In 1895, Josephine D. Taylor bought it as a summer home. Then, Edmund H. Pendleton, a writer from New York, lived there from 1905 until 1910. He used it as his winter home.

Becoming a Public Treasure

In 1928, Breckinridge Long bought the mansion. He was an important government official, serving as United States Ambassador to Italy. His daughter, Christine L. Willcox, was the last private owner. In 1961, she generously gave the property to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The mansion was opened to the public in 1976 as part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. This marked 200 years since America's independence. In the 1980s, the mansion was carefully fixed up with money from a state grant. It officially opened as a public tourist attraction in 1985. Today, you can even rent the mansion for events like conferences and weddings. The grounds also host special shows and exhibits.

Famous People Who Visited Montpelier

Many important historical figures have visited Montpelier Mansion over the years.

Abigail Adams
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George Washington visited at least twice in 1787. He was on his way to and from Philadelphia for the meeting where the U.S. Constitution was written.
Martha Washington visited in 1789, on her way to her husband's first time becoming president.
Woodrow Wilson

What Does Montpelier Mansion Look Like?

Montpelier is a large, beautiful country house built in the Georgian style. It has a main central part and two smaller sections on each side, connected by hallways.

Outside the Mansion

The main part of the house has two stories and five windows across the front. The middle three windows stick out slightly and are topped with a triangle shape called a pediment. The roof is sloped and has large chimneys sticking out. Both the front and back doors are very similar, with decorative columns on the sides and an open pediment above.

Montpelier Mansion, showing its Georgian style.

Inside the Mansion

Inside, Montpelier has beautiful carved wood decorations. The drawing room has special wood panels that hide a secret doorway! This secret door leads to a hidden set of stairs.

Gardens and Grounds

In 1970, the house was surrounded by formal gardens. There were three levels of terraces lined with boxwood hedges, arranged like a long pathway. There was even a boxwood maze near the south side of the house that was said to be over 200 years old! Most of these boxwood hedges have been removed since then. At the end of the long pathway, there is a six-sided summerhouse from the 1700s.