National Historic Landmark

Chambers, Whittaker, Farm

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland
Listed
May 16, 1988
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
88001824

About this property

The Whittaker Chambers Farm, also known as the Pipe Creek Farm, is a historic cluster of farm properties near Westminster in rural Carroll County, Maryland. The farm's historic significance comes from its ownership by Whittaker Chambers (1901-1961), a pivotal figure in American Cold War politics. In December 1948, Chambers hid the "Pumpkin Papers" (microfilm) while awaiting a subpoena from the House Un-American Activities Committee to relinquish any intelligence stolen from the US Government by members of the Soviet spy rings within the federal government (e.g., Alger Hiss). Chambers also wrote his best-selling 1952 memoir Witness there. The property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988, in a somewhat controversial decision. The property remains in the Chambers family and is not accessible to the public.

Location

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland
39.65741, -76.97559

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chambers, Whittaker, Farm

This page lists Chambers, Whittaker, Farm. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Arter, Solomon, House
Industrial
2.2 mi
Royer, Christian, House
Industrial
2.3 mi
Arter, Philip and Uriah, Farm
Industrial
2.3 mi
Union Mills Homestead Historic District
Civil War
2.4 mi
Slagle-Byers House (CARR-821)
Industrial
2.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chambers, Whittaker, Farm listed on the National Register?

Chambers, Whittaker, Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Chambers, Whittaker, Farm?

Chambers, Whittaker, Farm is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Chambers, Whittaker, Farm a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Chambers, Whittaker, Farm has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Chambers, Whittaker, Farm?

The period of significance for Chambers, Whittaker, Farm is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Chambers, Whittaker, Farm?

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