Mount Clare (Maryland) facts for kids
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Mount Clare
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Mount Clare in December 2011
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| Location | Carroll Park, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | 1763 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000860 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
Mount Clare, also known as the Mount Clare Museum House, is the oldest building from the Colonial era in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. It is a large house built in the Georgian style.
A lawyer named Charles Carroll the Barrister built Mount Clare in 1763. It was part of a large plantation owned by the Carroll family. Charles Carroll the Barrister was a distant relative of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. This other Charles Carroll was famous for signing the United States Declaration of Independence. He also helped start the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad nearby in 1828.
The City of Baltimore bought a big part of the Mount Clare property in 1890. They turned it into a large park. Since 1917, a group called The National Society of Colonial Dames in Maryland has taken care of Mount Clare. In 1970, it became a National Historic Landmark because of its special architecture.
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Exploring Mount Clare's Design
Mount Clare has a special entrance area called a portico. Above this, there is a part that sticks out with a Palladian window. This type of window has three parts. In 1910, the City of Baltimore added two buildings on each side. These buildings were connected to the main house. They were first used as public restrooms. Today, one is a library, and the other shows what a colonial kitchen looked like.
There is also a stable built around 1912. It used to house horses for park rangers. Now, it is used for classes and events.
Mount Clare's Long History
Early Days in the 1700s
The first building on the Mount Clare land was built in 1754. It was built by John Henry Carroll, Charles Carroll the Barrister's brother. This building was likely included in the larger house later on. Charles inherited the land after John passed away. The property was 800 acres. It was part of a much bigger plantation.
Mount Clare overlooked the Patapsco River. There were docks and the Baltimore Iron Works nearby. This was a big industrial business in colonial America. Charles Carroll began building the main house between 1757 and 1760.
This area was first considered for the new Baltimore Town in 1729. But a different spot was chosen. This was because a landowner thought he had found iron ore there. In 1608, Captain John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay. He called the Patapsco River the Bolus River. "Bolus" is a Latin word for clay, which often holds iron.
Charles Carroll the Barrister built the main part of the house. It was a 2½-story Georgian style building. He added his brother John's kitchen and other buildings. In 1768, he added the projecting bay and the Palladian window. These features are still important today. The house was finished around 1767.
After Charles Carroll died in 1783, his wife made more changes. She connected the outer buildings. She also added a greenhouse and made the laundry area bigger. These changes made the complex about 360 feet long. These additions were in the newer Federal architecture style.
The 1800s and the Railroad
By the 1820s, the city of Baltimore was growing. New streets and houses were built closer to Mount Clare. New York City had built the Erie Canal in 1825. This canal made it easier and cheaper to transport goods. This caused leaders in Baltimore to look for new ways to compete.
In 1827, several businessmen formed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was one of its directors. On July 4, 1828, he helped lay the first stone for the railroad. This happened near the old Mount Clare house.
The railroad built workshops and foundries nearby. These were known as the Mount Clare Shops. A small train station, Mount Clare Station, was built in the 1830s. Later, the B&O Roundhouse was built in 1884. This became the B&O Railroad Museum in 1953. The name Mount Clare was also used for the nearby neighborhood. This area became a center for railroad industries.
Inventors like Peter Cooper and Ross Winans worked here. They designed early steam engines for the railroad. Many skilled workers and immigrants came to live and work in southwest Baltimore. Other neighborhoods nearby included Poppleton and Pigtown.
The Carroll family no longer owned the mansion after 1840. The connecting wings of the house were removed. During the American Civil War, Union Army forces used Mount Clare as a headquarters. They built forts around Baltimore, making it a very protected city.
After the Civil War, Mount Clare was used as a beer garden. In 1890, the City of Baltimore bought the house and 70 acres of land. They turned it into a large park.
Mount Clare Today: The 2000s
Since January 2012, the City of Baltimore's Department of Recreation and Parks has worked with the B&O Railroad Museum. They also work with the Maryland Chapter of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. This group has managed Mount Clare since 1917.
The B&O Railroad Museum is about a mile away. It offers train rides to and from its museum complex. They also have tours and exhibits. These tours tell the story of the railroad and the Civil War history of the site.
The Colonial Dames group has staff and volunteers. They share the story of the mansion itself. They show how the Carroll family and later owners lived. They also tell about the enslaved people and servants who worked there.
Visiting Mount Clare Museum House
Mount Clare Museum House is open to the public. It is furnished with items from its historical period. Guided tours begin with a video. Then, visitors walk through the entire house. The tour usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
See also
