At one point in time, the Hampton Estate encompassed 25,000 acres used for “ironworks, grain crops, beef cattle, thoroughbred horses, coal mining, marble quarries, mills, and mercantile interests” (NPS website). It was owned by the extremely wealthy Ridgely family from the 1700s to the 1900s and is now a part of the National Park Service. The Ridgely family was made rich off of the backs of indentured servants and enslaved workers who operate the estate’s many income operations. During the interesting guided tours the NPS offers of the mansion, you learn about the various occupants of the estate and their dramatically different daily lives.
This is a great great way to spend the day for those within day-trip distance of Baltimore, MD. The estate’s history which spans the Revolutionary and Civil Wars make it an ideal place to focus in on one of the most interesting and evolving historical periods in America. The historic mansion is decorated throughout in period decor, and the well informed guides each provide their own favorite anecdotes of the home’s occupants throughout the tour. In addition, the grounds are beautiful and ideal for strolling from sight to sight interspersed throughout the property.
Basic Information:
Admission is free!
The ground are open daily 8:30am-5pm (with the exception of some holidays)
Tours of the Mansion are Offered Thursday – Sunday at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. (Limit 15 visitors per tour; you are only permitted into the mansion on one of the offered tours.)
Operating hours of the Home Farm, Slave Quarters, Tenant Quarters, Dairy, Family Cemetery, Stables, and Ice House are Thursday – Sunday, 9:30am-3:30pm
Location: 535 Hampton Lane Towson, MD 21286
More detailed information and a schedule of events can be found at the NPS website.
