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Historic Homes Outside the Naval Academy Gates

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

The Annapolis Visitor's Bureau describes Annapolis as "a place where history lives in a museum without walls."  While this is true, history also lives within the walls of many homes outside Gate 1 of the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you're relocating to Annapolis, these homes are just some of the historical treasures that will become your neighbors: 

Paca House and Garden

THE WILLIAM PACA HOUSE at 186 Prince George Street, one of the most elegant landmarks in Annapolis, is the restored home of William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary-era Governor of Maryland. In 1965, the Historic Annapolis Foundation purchased this property from the Annapolis Hotel Corporation to save this landmark by rebuilding the 2-acre garden through extensive archaeological research and returning the house to its 18th-century appearance. It opened to the public in 1973.

Exhibits of antique furniture, silver and decorative arts highlight different aspects of everyday life in the 1760s and 1770s for William Paca, his wife, Mary, and other members of their household.

 

HAMMOND HARWOOD HOUSE, at 19 Maryland Avenue, is an elegant home from the Georgian period of the Golden Age of Annapolis's history, built for 25-year old Mathias Hammond, who had just inherited a lot of money.  The American Revolution interfered with construction in 1776, and it's not know for sure when it was finished or if Hammond ever lived in the home.  It is known that other prominent Annapolis families lived there including the Chase family, the Pinkneys, and the Harwoods.  In the early 20th century, St. John's College owned the house, using it for classes and then as a fraternity house.  

The Federated Garden Club of Maryland rented Hammond Harwood House from the college in 1938, and then bought it.  It is now owned and managed by the Hammond-Harwood Association, which operates a museum showcasing a superb collection of decorative & fine arts, with special emphasis on Annapolis cabinetmaker John Shaw and paintings by Charles Wilson Peale and three other members of his family. Period rooms feature exquisite silver, china & furnishings of 18th and early 19th century. Visitors may visit the exhibition gallery and garden at no charge, and tours of the house are available,

 

Maryland Government House

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, on State Circle, has been the official residence of Maryland Governors for more than 125 years - since the Administration of Governor Oden Bowie.  At that time, it was a Victorian mansion with a mansard roof.  In 1935-36, the conversion of Government House to its present appearance took place and other renovations were done in 1947 and 1987. 

Furnishing, paintings and other items in Government House include portraits by Charles Willson Peale, one of America's foremost portrait painters, and furnishings by Potthast, eminent Baltimore furniture makers of the 19th century.  Beautiful pieces from around the nation and the world also decorate Government House, where visitors have included Mark Twain and Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. 

 

CHARLES CARROLL HOUSE

This historic home at 107 Duke of Gloucester Street is a restoration project in progress.  It bears great historical significance to the state of Maryland and America as the home of Charles Carroll the Settler, first Attorney General of Maryland, his son Charles Carroll of Annapolis, and his grandson Charles Carroll of Carrollton.  In spite of persecution and restrictions for his faith, Charles Carroll of Carrollton secured his family's vision of personal, political and religious freedom when he became the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

 

TAnnapolis Main StreetHE BARRACKS

The Barracks at 43 Pinkney Street is typical of the small downtown homes leased to provide housing for soldiers before they deployed to battle during the Revolutionary War.  There was very little food available to the soldiers and the homes were meagerly furnished; any furniture in the house at the time was probably burned to provide heat.  The building is now owned by the state of Maryland and was restored as part of a Bicentennial Project grant.  It is managed by the Historic Annapolis Foundation and now houses the offices of Preservation Services.

Other historic properties described by Historic Annapolis on their website include 77 Main Street, 99 Main Street, Waterfront Warehouse, and Shiplap House.

 

RANDALL HOUSE

Randall House, an 1870 era house at 30 Randall Street built in the Victorian Italianate style, is currently a Bread & Breakfast operated by Jerry and Sandra Jenkins.  The house is a "gem of old world elegance" with its original front porch, crown molding and doors.  Other fabulous furnishings include a Schoenback crystal chandelier, handsome 1892 burl sideboard, walnut game table, and an Empire sofa from Sorrento.    

For other historic homes that are now operated as a Bed & Breakfast, visit Historic Inns and Famous Homes of Annapolis

 

HISTORIC HOMES FOR SALE

Why just visit, when you could own and live in an historic home outside the gates of the Naval Academy?  There are 27 homes on the market in Annapolis right now over 100 years old - one of them is 238 years old.  They are priced from $179,900 for a home at 7 Ridout Street to a fixer-upper next to the Naval Academy and Saint Johns College, at 8 Maryland Avenue, that now houses 18 fire-damaged rental units - priced at $3,450,000.  Twelve of these historic homes are over a million dollars, but the others are less, with several in the $400-500 thousands - about the cost of living in a nearby suburb.  (Link takes you to all Annapolis homes for sale, not just the historic ones.)

 

If military relocation is bringing you to the U.S. Naval Academy or Annapolis Naval Station, be sure to visit the Annapolis Visitor's Bureau to learn about places to stay for your house-hunting trip.  As they say, "you can sleep on a schooner, in an 18th-century historic inn, a charming bed and breakfast or a first-class hotel".

And visit the Maryland Office of Tourism to request a free travel kit including things to do, a map, and other information to make your visit enjoyable.

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (28)

Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

I love Annapolis.  Just walking the streets along the waterfront with those great restaurants and shops is an adventure. 

Thanks Margaret.

Jan 28, 2008 01:21 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Cynthia, Thanks for the compliment.  Your folks would find plenty of historic homes in Annapolis, and guided tours that will make it easy to get through the doors and learn more about them. 

Lenn, You're so right! It's hard to visit a restaurant in Annapolis without a side-trip into the shops!  I think maybe that's why they put the parking garage where they did - for anyone who doesn't know, it's a block off Main Street, about half way between Annapolis Harbor and Church Circle, so you pretty much have to walk past a bunch of the little shops to get anywhere.  Next time you're out this way...

Jan 28, 2008 02:10 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating
Margaret ~ That's quite a history!  I enjoyed the pictures, as I love looking at great architecture.  I also enjoyed your Main Street photo; I love that small town feel.  It looks very much like our own Port Jefferson here on Long Island (also called Main Street).
Jan 28, 2008 03:44 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Kathy, Thanks for visiting.  I love it all, too - but somehow take it for granted, more often than not.
Jan 28, 2008 06:42 AM
Jeff R. Geoghan
Coldwell Banker Realty - Lancaster, PA
REALTOR, Marketing Manager

I've always wanted to come down and tour this area for the sheer amount of history around.  Nice post on some historic homes, Margaret.

Jan 28, 2008 07:40 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Thanks, Jeff - It's a beautiful place to visit (or live).  Just check the local schedule online before you come - During Commissioning Week and Family Weekend, for example, about 1000 families are in town for their Midshipman's milestone celebrations, and those extra people are not easily absorbed into restaurant lines, traffic, etc.  lol.
Jan 28, 2008 08:41 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"
Margaret We are fortunate to live in an area that played such a prominent in our country's birth and where so much of the treasure has been preserved,  Karen
Jan 28, 2008 01:41 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Karen - So true!
Jan 28, 2008 01:43 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
oh my gosh look at the history here - Oh - I love historic areas
Jan 28, 2008 05:09 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK
This is one of the things that we miss the most about the east coast.  What a wonderful post.  Very nice job, Margaret!
Jan 28, 2008 08:32 PM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Margaret~What a treasure to find so many historical sites all in one area. Annapolis shows to be such a very clean and beautiful location. Thank you for your continuing to be such a wonderful example. 
Jan 29, 2008 12:37 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Thesa - 'Hope you have a chance to visit here someday.

Jesse & Kathy - Thank you, all the more reason to come for a visit!

Julie - It is beautiful here!  All of these places are literally within blocks of the Naval Academy.  Nothing quite so interesting near Fort Meade and Andrews AFB!

Jan 29, 2008 02:42 AM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK
I agree. We'll be there (NC/VA) in a few weeks.  Time to go thaw out! :)
Jan 29, 2008 04:02 AM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains
Margaret:  What a beautiful place to live.  I especially like the picture of The Barracks.  Very interesting history.
Jan 29, 2008 04:10 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Jesse & Kathy - Sounds like a good idea!  We were in the 50's today.

Donna - Main Street is very scenic, and I love to go there shopping or for one of the restaurants.  When the weather gets better, I'll have to take some photos.

Jan 29, 2008 10:11 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Great historic homes, Margaret, and good fodder for the Buildings & Architecture group. I particularly liked your summary in Historic Homes for Sale of how your reader could own one of these!
Jan 29, 2008 01:32 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Sharon - Goodness, yet another group I didn't know anything about!

Jan 29, 2008 02:54 PM
Anonymous
Danita Allen

Great history lesson!  Hats off!

Feb 08, 2008 11:12 AM
#26
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Danita, I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll checkout some of the historic homes currently for sale.
Feb 08, 2008 11:27 AM
The Niche Agent
The Niche Agent
Your Niche Is Our Niche

I thought you may want to check out the interview I did with Valorie Ford on The Niche Agent. We talk about her transition from specializing in historic homes to getting her own radio show as a result of it. Let me know what you think...

I posted it on my AR blog, you can check it out here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/4434100/from-selling-historic-homes-to-her-own-radio-show-

 

Ryan Smith - The Niche Agent

www.TheNicheAgent.com

Jul 09, 2014 07:18 AM