List of the oldest buildings in Maryland

This article attempts to list some of the oldest extant buildings surviving in the state of Maryland in the United States of America. Some dates are approximate and based upon dendrochronology, architectural studies, and historical records. Sites on the list are generally from the First Period of American architecture or earlier. To be listed here a site must:

  • date from prior to 1776; or
  • be the oldest building in a county, large city, or oldest of its type (church, government building, etc.).
See also: Oldest buildings in America

Oldest overall
Building Image Location Dated Use Notes
Brooke Place Manor[1]
St. Leonard, Maryland 1652 Residence One of the earliest manor houses in the State. This brick structure of flemish bond brick, was an early 17th century 1-1/2 story building with a very steep A-roof. It was enlarged in the 1840's into a 2-1/2 story Greek Revival structure, with a gently sloping A-roof. The home, built by Robert Brooke, Sr, still resides on 100 acres of the original 2,100 acres granted to him in 1649 by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore.
Old Trinity Church, Maryland Church Creek, Maryland 1675 Religious Church building in continuous use; as such, oldest in the US.[2]
Third Haven Meeting House Talbot County, Maryland 1682 Religious Oldest Quaker meeting house in the United States.
Spring House, Ft. Lincoln Cemetery Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Prince George's County, Maryland 1683 Springhouse Small springhouse structure. In Maryland by 300 ft.[3]
Fort Garrison Stevenson, Maryland c. 1695 Fort
Holly Hill Friendship, Maryland 1698 (fall or winter); 1713; c. 1730[4] Residence Primitive, two-room, ​1 1⁄2-story frame house at its incarnation. Two subsequent additions/upgrades performed, including a full structural brick encasement in c. 1730.[4]
Morgan Hill Farm Lusby, Maryland c. 1700 Residence Oldest part built between 1670 and 1700.
Sands House Annapolis, Maryland c. 1700s Residence Unconfirmed date of construction. Dendrochronology points to a date as early as 1681, but other sources point toward 1739. Historical marker inscribed with a c. 1700s date.
Sotterley Plantation Hollywood, Maryland 1702 Museum Popular public historic interpretation and living history exhibits.
Cedar Park Galesville, Maryland 1702 Residence Date was ascertained through dendrochronology.
Rehoboth Presbyterian Church Rehobeth, Maryland 1706; 1888; 1954-1955 Religious Oldest Presbyterian Church in continuous use in the United States.[5]
Old Queen Anne's County Courthouse Queenstown, Maryland 1708 Government
Carvill Hall Chestertown, Maryland 1694–1709 Residence
All Hallows Church Edgewater, Maryland 1710 Religious
St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fairlee, Maryland 1713 Religious Associated vestry house, erected in 1766, is one of two that survive in the state (the other being at St. George's Church at Perryman).
Melwood Park Prince George's County, Maryland 1714 (dendrochronology)[6] Residence Originally thought to date to 1720s, but dendrochronology moved it back over a decade.
Shiplap House Annapolis, Maryland c. 1715 Tavern/store One of the oldest buildings in Annapolis' colonial district.
Sarum Newport, Maryland 1717 Residence Constructed spring-summer 1717. Previously believed to be of 17th century origin.[7] A shed on the site was built in 1736.
Richland Farm Clarksville, Maryland 1719; 1920 Residence Large addition to the rear added in 1920.
Ocean Hall Bushwood, Maryland 1719 Residence Date was ascertained through dendrochronology.
Bellefields Croom, Maryland c. 1720 Residence
Presbury Meetinghouse Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 1720 Religious
Sudley Deale, Maryland 1720–1730 Residence
Burch House Port Tobacco, Maryland 1720–1730 Residence
Rich Hill Bel Alton, Maryland 1720–1740 Residence
Charles Carroll House Annapolis, Maryland 1721 Residence One of 15 surviving birthplaces of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
White House Farm Chestertown, Maryland 1721; 1831 Residence Original section built in 1721.
Anne Arundel County Free School Davidsonville, Maryland 1724 School Only surviving school built in response to the Maryland Free School Act of 1723.
East Nottingham Friends Meetinghouse Rising Sun, Maryland 1724; 1752 Meetinghouse Brick portion burned in 1749, rebuilt and enlarged in 1752, with the original brick walls remaining.
Preston-on-the-Patuxent Johnstown, Maryland 1725 Residence Originally thought to date to 1651
Marshall Hall Bryans Road, Maryland 1725 Residence Earliest portioned built in 1725, with several additions later on. Severely damaged by fire sometime after 1980. A small brick building near it built around 1760.
Salisbury Plantation Westover, Maryland 1725 Residence
Great House St. Augustine, Maryland 1725–1750 Residence Built during second quarter of 18th century.
Rockburn Ellicott City, Maryland 1727 Residence
Doughoregan Manor Ellicott City, Maryland 1727; 1832 Residence Earliest portioned built in 1727, enlarged and remodeled in 1832.
St. Luke's Church Church Hill, Maryland c. 1729-1732 Religious
Yarmouth Cambridge, Maryland c. 1730s Residence
Larkin's Hundred Harwood, Maryland c. 1730 Residence Traditionally said to be built in 1704, more likely built second half of 18th century.
Bishopton Church Hill, Maryland c. 1730 Residence
Hopkins-Matthews House Darlington, Maryland c. 1730 Residence
Kingston Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1730 Residence
Readbourne Centerville, Maryland c. 1730; 1791; 1948 Residence Center block from 1730, south wing build in 1791. North wing was built in 1948.
Hopewell Providence, Cecil County 1730–1750 Residence
Beatty-Cramer House Frederick, Maryland 1732; 1855 Residence Addition constructed in 1855.
Christ Church Nanjemoy, Maryland 1732 Religious One of the oldest Episcopal church buildings in Maryland.
Rigbie House Berkley, Maryland c. 1732–1750 Residence
Bowlingly Queenstown, Maryland 1733; 1817; 1954 Residence Severely damaged in the War of 1812 by British forces. Enlarged in 1954.
Williams' Conquest Marion Station, Maryland 1733; 1825; 1850; 1968 Residence
St. Paul's Parish Church Brandywine, Maryland c. 1733–1735; 1769; 1793; 1921 Religious
Old Treasury Building Annapolis, Maryland 1735 Government Oldest government building in Annapolis.
Belvoir Crownsville, Maryland c. 1736 Residence Earliest portion could date to 17th century.
Reynold's Tavern Annapolis, Maryland 1737 Tavern
Valley Cottage Georgetown, Maryland 1737–1776 Residence Situated on original plot from 1737, unknown when it was actually built.
Jonas Green House Annapolis, Maryland 1738 Residence
Belmont Estate Elkridge, Maryland 1738 Residence
Ogle Hall Annapolis, Maryland 1739 Residence
Reward-Tilden's Farm Chestertown, Maryland c. 1740–1749 Residence Built in the 1740s.
Hager House Hagerstown, Maryland 1740 Residence Built by Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown, MD, and the oldest building in Washington County, MD.
Friendship Stevensville, Maryland 1740 Residence
Robinson House Severna Park, Maryland 1740 Residence
Stagg Hall Port Tobacco, Maryland 1740 Residence
Worthington House Darlington, Maryland c. 1740 Residence
Best Endeavor Churchville, Maryland 1740; 1785 Residence East portion of house added on in 1785.
Bayly House Cambridge, Maryland c. 1740 Residence Oldest home in Cambridge.
Bull-Barrow House Bel Air, Maryland c. 1740 Residence
Deer Park House Dublin, Maryland c. 1740–1741 Residence
Belair Mansion Bowie, Maryland c. 1740–1745 Residence
Waddy House Princess Anne, Maryland c. 1740–1760 Residence
Patrick Creagh House Annapolis, Maryland 1741 Residence
St. Thomas Manor Port Tobacco, Maryland 1741 Residence Connected chapel built in 1798.
South River Club South River, Maryland 1742 Clubhouse
St. John's College (McDowell Hall) Annapolis, Maryland 1742 School
Buckland East New Market, Maryland c. 1742 Residence
Clifton Ednor, Maryland c. 1742 Residence
Darnall's Chance Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1742 Residence
St. Thomas' Church Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1742–1745; 1859; 1888; 1905 Religious
William Hilleary House Bladensburg, Maryland c. 1742–1746 Residence
St. Thomas Church Owings Mills, Maryland 1743 Religious
Priest Neal's Mass House and Mill Site Bel Air, Maryland c. 1743 Religious One of the oldest extant buildings associated with the Catholic Church in America.
Obligation Harwood, Maryland 1743; 1827 Residence
William Barroll House Chestertown, Maryland c. 1743 Residence
Bohemia Farm Earleville, Maryland c. 1743–1745 Residence
Woodview Bel Air, Maryland 1744; 1820 Residence
Middleham Chapel Lusby, Maryland 1744 Religious Built in 1748, replacing an earlier building erected around 1684
John Churchman House Calvert, Maryland 1745; 1785 Residence
Schifferstadt Frederick, Maryland 1746 Residence Oldest residential building in Frederick, MD
Mercer Brown House Rising Sun, Maryland 1746 Residence
Derr House Frederick, Maryland 1746 Residence
Custom House Chestertown, Maryland 1746 Residence
Bostwick Bladensburg, Maryland 1746 Residence
Broom's Bloom Bel Air, Maryland 1747 Residence
All Hallows Episcopal Church Snow Hill, Maryland 1748 Religious
London Town Publik House Woodland Beach, Maryland c. 1745–1750 Tavern
Wilton Wye Mills, Maryland c. 1749–1770; 1800 Residence
Perry Point Mansion House Perryville, Maryland c. 1750 Residence
Stump Family Grist Mill Perryville, Maryland c. 1750 Mill
Wye Mill Wye Mills, Maryland c. 1750 Mill Building dates to mid 1700s.
Buckingham House Buckeystown, Maryland c. 1750 Residence School is a later addition to the attached house.
Howard Lodge Sykesville, Maryland c. 1750 Residence
Indian Queen Tavern and Black's Store Charlestown, Maryland 1750 Hotel/Retail
Judge John Brice House Annapolis, Maryland 1750 Residence Could've been built even earlier, possibly in 1739.
Rosehill Gambrills, Maryland 1750 Residence
The Homestead Baldwin, Maryland 1750 Residence
Rodgers Tavern Perryville, Maryland 1750 Hotel
Chimney House Port Tobacco, Maryland 1750 Residence
Poplar Hill Aberdeen, Maryland 1750 Residence
Mount Pleasant Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1750 Residence
Melwood Park Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1750 Residence At one point thought to be built in 1729.
Piscataway House Fort Washington, Maryland c. 1750; 1932 Residence Relocated from its original location in Piscataway, Maryland in the 1930s. Disassembled and rebuilt on present location.
Potter Hall Williston, Maryland 1750; 1808; 1930 Residence Central section built in 1750, 2 1⁄2-story Flemish bond brick structure built about 1808. Single story kitchen wing built in 1930.
Joshua's Meadows Bel Air, Maryland 1750; 1937 Residence
White Swan Tavern Chestertown, Maryland c. 1750 Tavern
Piscataway Tavern Piscataway, Maryland c. 1750; 1810 Tavern Larger Federal addition from 1810, replacing original structure.
Wyoming Clinton, Maryland c. 1750; 1800; 1850 Residence Connecting two-bay section built in 1850.
Waterloo Princess Anne, Maryland c. 1750–1760 Residence
Araby Mason's Springs, Maryland c. 1750–1765 Residence
Ellerslie Port Tobacco, Maryland c. 1750–1765 Residence
Rose Hill Chestertown, Maryland c. 1750–1775 Residence
Elk Landing Elkton, Maryland c. 1750–1775 Residence
Maidstone Owings, Maryland 1751 Residence Previously believed to date to the 17th century, a dendrochronology survey determined time period of fall-winter 1751.[8]
Blunt Farm and Granite Quarries Granite, Maryland 1751 Farm
Kitterman–Buckey Farm Johnsville, Maryland 1752 Farm Springhouse and Cabin on property also date from 1752
Rising Sun Inn Crownsville, Maryland 1753 Residence
Larkin's Hill Farm Harwood, Maryland 1753 Residence
Rich Hill Sassafras, Maryland c. 1753 Residence
Knocks Folly Kennedyville, Maryland c. 1753 Residence
Portland Manor Lothian, Maryland 1755 Residence Date was ascertained through dendrochronology
St. James Church Monkton, Maryland 1755 Religious Bell tower added in 1884.
The Ridge Derwood, Maryland 1755 Residence
Tulip Hill Galesville, Maryland 1755–1756 Residence
George Washington House Bladensburg, Maryland c. 1755–1765 Tavern
Jeremiah Brown House and Mill Site Rising Sun, Maryland 1757 Residence
Maynadier House Cambridge, Maryland c. 1759 Residence Right wing of house built in 1759.
Legg's Dependence Stevensville, Maryland 1760 Residence Built in several stages beginning around 1760–80. Enlarged to present form during the second quarter of the 19th century.
Mattapax Stevensville, Maryland 1760; 1949 Residence Restored in 1949, a wing was replaced by a newly constructed brick wing.
Howard's Inheritance Annapolis, Maryland 1760 Residence
Swansbury Aberdeen, Maryland c. 1760; 1775 Residence West section dates back to c. 1760. Main structure built in 1780.
Daffin House Hillsboro, Maryland c. 1760; 1780 Residence Brick wing built c. 1760. Main structure built in 1780.
Primrose Hill Annapolis, Maryland ca. 1760 Residence
LaGrange Cambridge, Maryland c. 1760 Residence
Cox-Davis-Barnes House Churchville, Maryland c. 1760 Residence
Lexon Centerville, Maryland c. 1760 Residence
Lansdowne Centerville, Maryland c. 1760; 1823 Residence Smaller building is from 1760. Larger building built in 1823.
Harmony Hall Fort Washington, Maryland c. 1760–1769 Residence Local tradition has it being built in 1723.
Rock United Presbyterian Church Elkton, Maryland 1761 Religious Remodeled to its current Victorian Gothic influenced appearance in 1872, and 1900. Also on the property is a stone Session House originally constructed in 1762.
Pleasant Hill Pomfret, Maryland 1761 Residence Earliest portion dates back to 1761. Added onto until about 1848.
Hopeful Unity Worton, Maryland 1761 Residence May encapsulate an even older structure.
Upton Scott House Annapolis, Maryland 1762 Residence
Acton Hall Annapolis, Maryland 1762 Residence
La Grange La Plata, Maryland c. 1763 Residence
Hockley Elkridge, Maryland c. 1763 Residence
St. James Episcopal Church Lothian, Maryland 1763 Religious Replaced an earlier structure dating to 1695. Oldest documented gravestone in Maryland (dated 1665) is found in the churchyard.[9]
Paca House and Garden Annapolis, Maryland 1763 Residence
Michael Cresap House Oldtown, Maryland 1764 Residence
Peggy Stewart House Annapolis, Maryland 1764 Residence
Mitchell House Fair Hill, Maryland 1764 Residence
Long Island Farm Parkville, Maryland 1764 Farm
Galloway Mansion Queenstown, Maryland 1764 Residence Moved from its original location at Easton, Maryland in 2019.
John Ridout House Annapolis, Maryland 1764–1765 Residence
Cross Manor St. Inigoes, Maryland "Prior to 1765" Residence
Whitehall Annapolis, Maryland c. 1765 Residence
Sycamore Cottage Cambridge, Maryland c. 1765 Residence
Market Master's House Bladensburg, Maryland c. 1765 Residence
Robert Long House Baltimore, Maryland 1765 Residence Oldest surviving residential structure in Baltimore City.
Manokin Presbyterian Church Princess Anne, Maryland 1765 Religious Georgian nave constructed in 1765, vestry and tower added in 1872, and 1888, respectively.[10]
Branton Manor Sykesville, Maryland c. 1766 Residence Oldest sections date to 1766, middle portion was a later addition.
St. George's Parish Vestry House Perryman, Maryland 1766 Religious
Brice House Annapolis, Maryland 1766–1773 Residence
Mount Clare Baltimore, Maryland 1767 Residence Oldest Colonial-era structure in Baltimore, Maryland.
Spye Park White Plains, Maryland 1767 Residence
Ringgold-Pearce House Chestertown, Maryland 1767 Residence
St. John's Episcopal Church Fort Washington, Maryland 1767 Religious Located in the Broad Creek Historic District. The building is the 4th iteration of the church since the original was erected in 1695.
Tubman Chapel, St. Mary's Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church Church Creek, Maryland 1767–1770 Religious Also used as a school house after later Victorian Era church was built across the road.[11]
Shepherd's Delight Still Pond, Maryland 1767–1783; 1810 Residence Built between 1767 and 1783.
Maxwell Hall Patuxent, Maryland ca. 1767 Residence
Sophia's Dairy Aberdeen, Maryland 1768 Residence
Emmanuel Episcopal Church Chestertown, Maryland 1768 Religious
Drury-Austin House Boyds, Maryland 1768 Residence
Harmony Hall Fort Washington, Maryland 1769 Residence Located in the Broad Creek Historic District. It was originally known as Battersea, and overlooked the colonial port of Aire.
Widehall Chestertown, Maryland 1769 Residence
Chase–Lloyd House Annapolis, Maryland 1769–1774 Residence
Mitchell House Elkton, Maryland c. 1769–1781 Residence
Artisan's House Annapolis, Maryland c. 1700s Residence Date of construction unknown, used as barracks during the American Revolutionary War.
Hazelwood Upper Marlboro, Maryland c. 1770s; 1800; 1860 Residence
Greenfields Cecilton, Maryland 1770 Residence Possibly built earlier, 1740–1760.
Truman's Place Hughesville, Maryland 1770 Residence
Colonel Joseph Wood House Woodsboro, Maryland 1770 Residence
Retreat Port Tobacco, Maryland c. 1770 Residence
Handsell Vienna, Maryland c. 1770 Residence
Mill Green Miller's House Street, Maryland c. 1770 Residence
Hebron Still Pond, Maryland c. 1770 Residence
London Coffee House Baltimore, Maryland c. 1770–1772 Public
Haberdeventure Port Tobacco, Maryland 1771 Residence
Mary's Mount Harwood, Maryland 1771 Residence Earliest portion built in 1771. Enlarged in early 19th century.
Maryland Inn Annapolis, Maryland c. 1772 Hotel
Pipe Creek Friends Meetinghouse Union Bridge, Maryland 1772 Meeting House Interior destroyed by fire in 1934.
Maryland State House Annapolis, Maryland 1772–1797 Government Oldest state house in continuous use in the United States.
Perry Hall Mansion Perry Hall, Maryland 1773; 1826 Residence Originally constructed in 1773, badly damaged in fire in 1826. Only half of main section and west wing were saved.
The Robert Johnson House Annapolis, Maryland 1773 Hotel
Preacher House Darlington, Maryland 1773 Residence
Round About Hills Glenwood, Maryland 1773 Residence
Gunpowder Meetinghouse Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland c. 1773 Religious Unknown if it is actually from 1773, but no evidence against it, as well.
Chesterville Brick House Chesterville, Maryland c. 1773 Commercial Moved from its original location in 1973.
Ridout Row Annapolis, Maryland 1773–1774 Residence
Hammond–Harwood House Annapolis, Maryland 1774 Residential Only existing work of colonial academic architecture that was principally designed from a plate in Andrea Palladio's I quattro libri dell'architettura (The Four Books of Architecture).
Catoctin Furnace Frederick County, Maryland 1774 Iron Forge Provided ammunition for American Revolutionary War
Hinchingham Rock Hall, Maryland 1774 Residence
Sexton's House Worton, Maryland c. 1774–1793 Residence Sexton's house is the only structure that dates back to 1700s.
Reed's Creek Farm Centreville, Maryland 1775 Residence
Fat Oxen Urbana, Maryland c. 1775 Residence
Little Elk Farm Providence, Cecil County c. 1775–1800 Residence
Governor Calvert House Annapolis, Maryland 1776 Hotel Original house burned in 1764, what was remaining of that was built into the current building. Original building dating back to early 18th century.
Mount Friendship Darlington, Maryland 1776; 1821 Residence

Oldest by county
County Building Image Location Dated Use Notes
Dorchester County Old Trinity Church, Maryland Church Creek, Dorchester County, Maryland 1675 Religious Church building in continuous use; as such, oldest in the US.[2]
Talbot County Third Haven Meeting House Talbot County, Maryland 1682 Religious Oldest Quaker meeting house in the United States.
Prince George's County County Spring House, Ft. Lincoln Cemetery Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Prince George's County, Maryland 1683 Springhouse Small springhouse structure. In Maryland by 300 ft.[3]
Baltimore County Fort Garrison Stevenson, Baltimore County, Maryland c. 1695 Fort
Anne Arundel County Holly Hill Friendship, Anne Arundel County, Maryland 1698 (fall or winter); 1713; c. 1730[4] Residence Primitive, two-room, ​1 1⁄2-story frame house at its incarnation. Two subsequent additions/upgrades performed, including a full structural brick encasement in c. 1730.[4]
Calvert County Morgan Hill Farm Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland c. 1700 Residence Oldest part built between 1670 and 1700.

Oldest by type
Type Building Image Location Dated Notes
Barn Evergreen (barn) Mount Savage, Maryland c. 1780
Church Otterbein Church Baltimore, Maryland 1785
Lighthouse Pooles Island Light Pooles Island off Aberdeen Proving Ground 1825 Oldest surviving lighthouse in Maryland
Shot tower Phoenix Shot Tower Baltimore, Maryland 1828 Only surviving shot tower in Maryland, third oldest in the U.S.
Train station Ellicott City station Ellicott City, Maryland 1830 Oldest surviving passenger train station in the U.S.
Synagogue Lloyd Street Synagogue Baltimore, Maryland 1840 Oldest surviving synagogue building in Maryland, third oldest in the U.S.

See also

References
  1. "MHT: Brooke Place Manor" (PDF).
  2. "Old Trinity Church HABS MD No. 201" (PDF). Historic American Buildings Survey. US National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  3. http://www.fort-lincoln.com/location/about/facility.html
  4. "Maryland's National Register Properties: Holly Hill". MHT.Maryland.gov. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  5. Hill, Ann; Snyderman, Lois. "Rehoboth Presbyterian Church" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  6. Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory. "The Tree-Ring Dating of Melwood Park, Prince George's County, Maryland". Dendrochronology.net. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  7. Stone, Garry Wheeler. "THE KEY-YEAR DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL PATTERN FOR THE OAKS OF MARYLAND'S WESTERN SHORE 1570-1980" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  8. Stone, Garry Wheeler. "THE KEY-YEAR DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL PATTERN FOR THE OAKS OF MARYLAND'S WESTERN SHORE 1570-1980" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  9. Morgan, William; Miller, Nancy. "St. James Church" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  10. James, Pamela. "Manokin Presbyterian Church" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  11. Touart, Paul. "St. Mary's Star-of-the-Sea Catholic Church" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
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