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Riversdale House Museum

‍The Riversdale House Museum is a historic manor house located at 4811 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale, MD 20737. The museum’s collection includes items from the lives of the Calvert family. It also features correspondence and archival records from Adam Francis Plummer, who was a savage owned by the Calverts from 1839 until his emancipation in 1864. His diary is one of the few first-person accounts of slavery emancipation in Maryland. Browse next article

The Riversdale House Museum is a beautiful late Georgian mansion, which operates today as a museum. The house was built by Belgian emigrant Henri Joseph Stier, who lived in the William Paca House in Annapolis, Maryland, before starting construction on his mansion. His goal was to construct a structure that resembled the Chateau du Mick, a famous chateau in France. But after only four years of construction, Stier left Riversdale to his daughter, Rosalie Stier Calvert. Her husband was George Calvert, the 5th Baron Baltimore, and his grandson, Charles Benedict Calvert, was a farmer and helped to establish the Maryland Agricultural College.

The climate of Riversdale House Museum is mild, although cold weather is possible in some seasons. Temperatures rarely drop below fifty degrees, with sunrises at 11:19 AM and sunsets at 10:25 PM. The winds are moderate at eight miles per hour and the humidity level is 73%. Visibility is 14 percent and the UV index is two, which makes this a perfect destination for outdoor activities.

The Riversdale House Museum offers a variety of programs for adults and children, including docent-led tours of the historic house. It is also available for rental for special events and weddings. The Riversdale Historical Society works with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to preserve the mansion’s cultural heritage. The organization also provides multimedia resources to enhance visitor experience. These include an interactive provenance map and videos.

During the restoration process, Riversdale staff members discovered some hidden treasures. One of these treasures is the historic wallpaper from George Calvert’s study. This panel depicts a stag hunting scene and was designed by Jacquemart & Benard between 1812 and 1815. It was previously hidden behind a bookcase, but the museum was able to acquire a small piece and hang it in the museum’s new galleries.

The Riversdale House Museum is located in Riverdale Park, Md. It is operated by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum also hosts a variety of year-round events. Visitors can also enjoy outdoor concerts. The museum is located close to the Town Center Market.

Self-guided tours of the historic house are also available. They last approximately one hour and a half, and include time to visit the Visitor Center and gardens. Visitors should avoid bringing food or beverages inside the house, but they can picnic outside. Photography is allowed without the use of flash.