| Hampton National Historic Site | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
  |
|
| Nearest city | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Area | 62.04 acres (0.25 km²) |
| Established | June 22, 1948 |
| Visitors | 24,407 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Hampton National Historic Site, at 535 Hampton Lane in Hampton, Maryland, preserves a remnant of a vast 18th century estate including a Georgian manor house, gardens and grounds, and original stone slave quarters.
History
When it was completed in 1790 by Captain Charles Ridgely, the Hampton Mansion was the largest private home in the United States.[1] The manison overlooked a grand estate the included an iron furnace and farm which at its peak consisted of 25,000 acres. The mansion looks down on the overseer's house, and the overseer's house looks down on the slave quarters, reminding visitors and workers of their place in life. The Hampton Mansion remained in the Ridgely family for six generations until it became part of the National Park Service. The second master of Hampton, Charles Carnan Ridgely served as the governor of the state of Maryland. The National Historic Site was authorized by Congress on June 22, 1948. As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Starting in January 2005, the mansion underwent a three-year restoration process and re-opened to the public on November 30, 2007.[2] Today, the park consists of 63 acres of the original estate including the mansion, farmhouse/overseer's house, several slave quarters, dairy formal gardens, orangry, stables, family cemetery and a number of other buildings.
References
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
External links
- Official NPS website: Hampton National Historic Site
|
|
|
|---|---|
| National Park Service |
Antietam National Battlefield • Assateague Island National Seashore • Catoctin Mountain Park • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park • Clara Barton National Historic Site • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine • Fort Washington Park • Greenbelt Park • Hampton National Historic Site • Monocacy National Battlefield • Piscataway Park • Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail • Thomas Stone National Historic Site |
| National Forests | none |
| State Parks |
Assateague • Big Run • Calvert Cliffs • Casselman River Bridge • Chapel Point • Cunningham Falls • Dans Mountain • Deep Creek Lake • Elk Neck • Fort Frederick • Fort Tonoloway • Gambrill • Gathland • Greenbrier • Greenwell • Gunpowder Falls • Hart-Miller Island • Herrington Manor • Janes Island • Jonas Green • Martinak • Matapeake • New Germany • North Point • Palmer • Patapsco Valley • Patuxent River • Pocomoke River • Point Lookout • Purse • Rocks • Rocky Gap • Rosaryville • Sandy Point • Seneca Creek • Smallwood • South Mountain • St. Clement's Island • St. Mary's River • Susquehanna • Swallow Falls • Tuckahoe • Washington Monument • Wills Mountain • Wye Oak |
| State Forests |
Cedarville • Doncaster • Elk Neck • Garrett • Green Ridge • Mount Nebo • Pocomoke River • Potomac • Savage River • Seth • Swallow Falls • Wicomico |
| Other |
Choptank River Fishing Pier • Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary • Morgan Run Natural Environment Area • Soldier's Delight Natural Environment Area • Somers Cove Marina • Western Maryland Rail Trail • Youghiogheny Scenic & Wild River |
| Maryland Department of Natural Resources (web): Maryland Park Service (web) and Maryland Forest Service | |
