Rackliffe House (Assateague State Park) facts for kids
Rackliffe House in 2022
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1752 |
|---|---|
| Location | 11700 Tom Patton Lane, Berlin, Maryland, 21811; Assateague State Park, Assateague Island, Maryland |
| Type | Historic house museum |
| Founder | Charles Rackliffe (1752); Tom Patton (2010) |
The Rackliffe House is a special old house from the 1700s. It has been carefully fixed up and sits by the Sinepuxent Bay. This historic house is located near Assateague State Park in Berlin, Maryland.
In the 1700s, this house was one of the most impressive homes in the area. It was built with strong bricks in a special pattern. The Rackliffe House is one of the few old homes from colonial times that you can still visit today. It gives us a peek into life long ago.
Contents
Discovering Rackliffe House History
Early Days and Native Americans
The land around Rackliffe House was first home to the Assateague Indians. They used this area as a hunting camp. Later, in 1679, a large piece of land was given to Charles Rackliffe and Edward Wale. This land was called Genezeer. It is the oldest property owned by colonists in Northern Worcester County.
Building the Rackliffe Home
Captain Charles Rackliffe built the main house around 1752. It was a big, two-story house made of thick bricks. From its high spot, the house had amazing views of the Sinepuxent Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This allowed the family to watch ships passing by. The kitchen was in a separate building. It was connected to the main house by a short hallway.
Life on the Plantation
People who lived on the plantation grew crops like tobacco, corn, and wheat. In 1790, records show that the Rackliffe family owned many animals. These included horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. They also had a large amount of tobacco.
Surviving Through the Years
The Rackliffe House has stood strong for many years. It survived big wars like the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. Some local stories say the top part of the house was damaged by fire during the Revolutionary War.
In the early 1800s, the house was sold a few times. Then, in 1929, a fire badly damaged the inside of the house. It was rebuilt later, and its brick outside was covered with white stucco. In 1996, the state of Maryland bought the house and 114 acres of land.
The Rackliffe House Trust
Protecting Coastal Heritage
The Rackliffe House Trust was started in 2004. Tom Patton, a descendant of the original Rackliffe family, created it. He wanted the house to be a place where people could learn about coastal history. Tom Patton passed away in 2010, but the Trust continued its important work.
Restoring the Historic House
Before the house could be opened, a big study was done in 2007. This study looked at the house's history and how it was built. The Trust now takes care of the house and its three acres of land. They have a 50-year agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This land is part of the larger Assateague Island State Park.
The Trust has worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Assateague State Park. They have raised over $800,000 to fix up the Rackliffe House. They also used money for archaeological digs on the property. The main parts that were restored include the house, its kitchen, and the milk house.
Workers removed parts added in the 1920s. They rebuilt four old fireplaces. A new roof was put on, matching the style from the 1700s. Damaged walls were fixed using old bricks. Some walls were very thick, up to 18 inches at the bottom. New wiring, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing were also installed.
The house first opened for public tours in 2012. More than 1,100 people came to visit that year.
Digging into the Past: Archaeology
Uncovering Old Secrets
The area around Rackliffe House is a great place for archaeology. This is where people dig to find old things and learn about the past. Many other buildings used to be on this property at different times. People also believe there was a graveyard nearby, but its exact spot is not known.
There is a worry that some important old sites might be lost. This is because of changes in the climate and shoreline over time. Also, new golf courses have been built in the area.
What Archaeologists Found
In 2010, archaeologists Aaron Levinthal and Ryun Papson led a three-week dig. They mapped the area by digging 300 small holes to collect soil samples. This helped them decide where to dig more carefully. They found that most of the property had not been disturbed. This means the soil still held many historical clues.
Among their exciting discoveries were pieces of Native American pottery from before 1650. They also found a possible old dumping ground in a swampy area. And they uncovered a buried brick walkway! More than 40 volunteers helped with this important work.
Visiting Rackliffe House
How to Explore the Site
Rackliffe House is part of Assateague State Park. The property is open from morning until evening every day. You can visit the grounds and see the outside of the house and milk house all year round.
Visitors should park at the Assateague Island Visitor Center. From there, you can walk to the house along Tom Patton Lane. New walking trails are being planned to make the path even nicer. The inside of the house is open for tours only on certain days during the summer.
