National Register of Historic Places

Hampton National Historic Site

Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000389

About this property

Hampton National Historic Site, in the Hampton area north of Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland, preserves a remnant of a vast 18th-century estate, including a Georgian manor house, gardens, grounds, and the original stone slave quarters. The estate was owned by the Ridgely family for seven generations, from 1745 to 1948. The Hampton Mansion was the largest private home in America when it was completed in 1790 and today is considered to be one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States. Its furnishings, together with the estate's slave quarters and other preserved structures, provide insight into the life of late 18th-century and early 19th-century landowning aristocracy. In 1948, Hampton was the first site selected as a National Historical Site for its architectural significance by the U.S. National Park Service. The grounds were widely admired in the 19th century for their elaborate parterres or formal gardens, which have been restored to resemble their appearance during the 1820s. Several trees are more than 200 years old. The mansion and grounds are open to visitors, as are the overseer's house and slave quarters. Unlike most plantations, Hampton retains its original slave quarters.

Location

535 Hampton Lane
Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland
39.41588, -76.58759

Categories

INDUSTRYLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTUREAGRICULTUREHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALCONSERVATIONBLACKPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTSOCIAL HISTORY
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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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

Goucher College
Industrial
0.6 mi
Towson Academy
Industrial
1.5 mi
Baltimore County Courthouse
Industrial
1.5 mi
Baltimore County Jail
Industrial
1.7 mi
Aigburth Vale
Industrial
1.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hampton National Historic Site listed on the National Register?

Hampton National Historic Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Hampton National Historic Site?

Hampton National Historic Site is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hampton National Historic Site?

The period of significance for Hampton National Historic Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Hampton National Historic Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hampton National Historic Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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