national historic site tours buildings offered thursday sunday grounds open seven days week offer great opportunities learning reflection located area north maryland usa preserves remnant vast 18th century estate including georgian manor house gardens grounds original stone slave quarters estate owned family seven generations largest private home america completed today considered finest examples georgian architecture estate slave quarters preserved structures provide insight life late 18th century early 19th century aristocracy site selected national historical site architectural significance grounds widely admired 19th century elaborate formal gardens restored resemble appearance 1820s trees years old addition mansion grounds visitors tour house slave quarters history 18th century property originally land grant given col relative lord baltimore heirs sold land april col tobacco farmer trader bill sale records property included houses tobacco houses tobacco stables gardens late extended acres included son expanded family business considerably include apple stone american revolutionary war significant source income producing cannons ammunition continental_army began construction main house said concept inspired england owned relatives mother completed largest private home united_states died year nephew second master feet irrigation pipes laid nearby spring provide water mansion surrounding gardens extensively developing prominent time hired design geometric formal gardens planted mansion grounds avid began raising horses installed advertisement promoted stud services won washington city jockey club cup 19th century reached peak acres 1820s mansion overlooked grand estate coal mining marble mills interests vast farm produced corn beef cattle dairy products horses slaves worked fields served household making maryland largest estates designed levels facing mansion planted roses seasonal flowers built grounds frequently entertained prominent guests mansion great hall declaration independence revolutionary war general served governor maryland governor died freed slaves estate split heirs son mansion acres km2 closed income primarily derived farming investments stone added heating gas lighting mansion john wife subject famous portrait lady purchased artworks mansion noted larger elaborate gardens cultivated grounds large variety flowers shrubs grown estate tended slaves purchased mid-19th century estate extensive collections citrus trees exotic trees plants gathered frequent travels europe orient warm months citrus plants brought outside arranged gardens taken heated winter section garden planted colorful red yellow pink asia fame lavish style author book landscaping wrote truly said expresses place america january shortly election abraham_lincoln president united_states son formed pro confederate baltimore county horse guards captain militia unit described states rights gentlemen militia cavalry men subsequently arrested union_army imprisoned charge treason sparking landmark case civil war maryland pennsylvania battle estate remained untouched maryland border state lincoln eliminated slavery end slavery began decline number slaves continued work paid household servants hire hands work farm deaths john son charles master mansion remaining acres km2 subsequently inherited charles death captain prominent guests including continued visit enjoy grounds 20th century nearby baltimore grew local agriculture declined found increasingly difficult maintain property removed grass lawn income generated producing estate apple operating dairy son formed sold remaining acres land sixth generation family master company sold large portions estate suburban housing development 1930s 1940s known fashionable residential community remained family moved smaller property mansion acquired andrew foundation seventh generation live mansion son marrying mid-1930s continued reside mansion wife entered army service world war remaining acres estate designated national historic site secretary interior june site selected basis historical significance outstanding merit architectural monument opened public care thirty years work began restore site 19th century october listed national_register_of_historic_places october acquired national_park_service operated managed estate subsequently acquired additional containing original structures bringing park present acres size stated purpose historic site preserve cultural resources rare commercial industrial agricultural estate historic region national events social change revealed site resources inter relationships family workers lived estate took shape changed 18th 19th centuries 21st century adopted estate long term planning operation began studying mansion security safety electrical systems environmental issues critical needs identified lack fire suppression system climate control property paintings said need stabilize temperature humidity levels inside mansion urgent unacceptable environmental stress finalized plans including environmental impact assessment installation modern system concealed fire system protect historic mansion contents loss fire starting january mansion closed years underwent major restoration project renovations drawing room completely refurbished drawing room extensively researched reflect accurately mansion period ornate atop mansion restored including spherical gold leaf opened public november chief ranger said million renovations don think mansion looked better preservation maryland statewide preservation advocacy organization conferred mansion rooms historical accuracy installing fire suppression climate control systems national_park_service management remaining acre estate managed national_park_service open public ample free parking gift shop wheelchair accessibility mansion visitors provided guided tour mansion original owned seen family collection oil paintings comprising objects addition mansion visitors view surviving original structures grounds built 18th mid-19th century period located feet north mansion slave quarters portion believed purchase property family lived mansion constructed residence farm manager wife jane vacated mansion lived deaths slave quarters preserved stone buildings adjacent provided exhibits slave life displayed newspaper advertisement offering reward return runaway slave christmas gift list kept daughter slaves children dairy built stone barn built stone long house ash house wooden log building self guided tours grounds hours park open public including farm formal garden family cemetery stables built stone family horses replica original built viewed original wooden burned reconstructed original foundations surviving foot deep underground visible near mansion open visitors surviving trees planted 1820s large tree prize cedar lebanon brought middle_east largest numerous special events scheduled year chamber music concerts performances presented mansion ornate great hall demonstrations dairy carriage rides hay harvesting corn harvesting demonstrations reported visitors local community actively supports site preservation non profit friends group assisted national_park_service achieving historical accuracy potential interiors presentation activities challenge grant announced national_park_service matched equal raised restoration mansion interiors national_park_service maintains site archive family papers researchers tea room controversy estate opened public mansion kitchen converted small restaurant known operated years serving featuring meat blue crab baked seasoned chesapeake_bay served glass local newspaper columnist described offering fireplace nearly big wall windows nearly feet thick view rolling tea room closed national_park_service january officials said potential fire hazard posed operating kitchen main park building possibility insect damage historic items mansion stated general management plan adopted previous year pleasant place enjoy meal clearly important need preserve buildings objects landscapes future generations stated officials preservation maryland said disappointed restaurant closure saying helped attract visitors historic site women committee raises money projects criticized decision women group renewed efforts tea room reopened saying draw visitors repeat business locals park spokesman quoted saying october mansion going site food operation comment
Hampton National Historic Site