Rosaryville State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rosaryville State Park |
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Mount Airy Mansion, Rosaryville State Park, 2016
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 Rosaryville State Park
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Rosaryville, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest city | Washington, D.C. |
| Area | 1,039 acres (4.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Established | 1976 |
| Administrator | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Rosaryville State Park |
Rosaryville State Park is a fun place in Maryland where you can enjoy nature and learn about history. It's located near Joint Base Andrews in Rosaryville. This state park has a beautiful old house called Mount Airy Mansion, which is used for special events. You can also go hiking, biking, or horseback riding on its trails.
Contents
Park History: From Mansion to Park
The Calvert Family's Home
The history of Rosaryville State Park begins with the Mount Airy Mansion. This grand house was once home to Benedict Swingate Calvert (1730-1788). He was the son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, a very important person in colonial Maryland.
Mount Airy was first a hunting lodge for Benedict's grandfather, Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore. Benedict started building the main house you see today in 1751. He was a politician and a large-scale farmer, known as a planter, in Maryland.
George Washington's Connection
In 1774, Benedict Calvert's daughter, Eleanor Calvert, married John Parke Custis. John was the son of Martha Washington and the stepson of George Washington. George Washington himself attended their wedding at Mount Airy.
Eleanor and John's son, George Washington Parke Custis, was born at Mount Airy in 1781. He later built a famous house called Arlington House. He was also the father-in-law of the famous general, Robert E. Lee.
By the 1770s, Benedict Calvert owned a large and successful farm of about 4,000 acres. He also loved horses and bred many thoroughbreds. He raced them in competitions across Maryland and Virginia.
Benedict Calvert passed away at Mount Airy in 1788. He was buried at St. Thomas' Church in Croom, a church he helped to build.
Later Owners and Park Creation
After Benedict's death, his son, Edward Henry Calvert, inherited the estate. The property stayed in the Calvert family until 1902. That year, Matilda Duvall bought it and renamed it Dower House. It became a country inn, but a fire in 1931 badly damaged the building.
The ruins were later bought and restored by Cissy Patterson. She was a famous newspaper publisher who hosted presidents and other important people at the mansion. She later gave the property to Ann Bowie Smith.
In 1973, the State of Maryland bought Mount Airy from Ann Bowie Smith's family. They wanted to add it to the new Rosaryville State Park. In 1976, Peter and Esther D. Duvall donated more land, making the park even bigger. This officially created Rosaryville State Park as we know it today.
Today, the Rosaryville Conservancy and a private company manage Mount Airy Mansion. It is a popular place for special events.
