Hampton National Historic Site

1900s

As nearby Baltimore grew and local agriculture declined, the Ridgelys found it increasingly difficult to maintain the property. Beginning in the 1920s and accelerating in the 1930s, Captain John Ridgely sold off large portions of the estate for suburban housing development, now known as the Hampton community.). The last generation of Ridgelys to live at the mansion was John Ridgely III nowrap|(1911–1990) and his wife Lillian nowrap|(1908-1996).

It was designated a National Historic Site by the Secretary of the Interior on June 22, 1948, the first site to be so selected on the basis of its architectural significance. Beginning in May, 1949, Hampton Mansion was opened to the public in the care of Preservation Maryland for the next thirty years (1949-1979).cite news|author=Suzanne Loudermilk|title=Hampton Mansion's tearoom to become another piece of history after Dec. 31|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=1998-09-15|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/34069261.html?dids=34069261:34069261&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|accessdate=2008-01-17 ] On October 15, 1966, Hampton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since October, 1979, it has been operated and managed by the National Park Service.

2000–present

Starting in January 2005, the mansion closed for almost three years as it underwent a major restoration project. It re-opened to the public on November 30, 2007.cite web|title=Hampton National Historic Site|publisher=U.S. National Park Service|date=January, 2008|url=http://www.nps.gov/hamp/ |accessdate=2008-01-11 ] As part of the 2005-2007 renovations, the drawing room and two bedchambers were completely refurbished. The drawing room's furnishings were extensively researched to reflect accurately the Mansion in the 1830-1860 period. The ornate cupola atop the mansion was restored, including the spherical ornament above the cupola, which was refinished in gold leaf. The Park Service's chief ranger for the Hampton National Historic Site said afterwards of the $3 million in renovations, "I don't think the mansion has ever looked better". [cite news|author=Loni Ingraham|title=Hampton Mansion goes 'green', reopens tomorrow|work=Towson Times|date=2007-11-28| url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=659&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1319635&om=1 |accessdate=2008-01-16]

"Preservation Maryland", a statewide preservation advocacy organization, conferred its "Stewardship Award" in 2007 on the Hampton National Historic Site for refurnishing the mansion's rooms with historical accuracy while unobtrusively installing modern fire suppression and climate control systems.

Currently

The remaining convert|63|acre|ha|0|abbr=on|adj=on estate, straddling Hampton Lane, is managed by the National Park Service. In addition to the mansion itself, visitors may view nine surviving original structures built during the 1790s to mid-19th century period:

* "Farm House" - the residence of the farm manager or overseer, a portion is believed to predate the Ridgelys' purchase of the property in 1745. After the last Ridgely family member (John Ridgely Jr.) vacated the mansion in 1948, he and his wife Jane lived here.
* Two "slave quarters" built of stone, now provided with interpretive exhibits on slave life.
* "Dairy", built of stone before 1800.
* "Mule barn", built of stone c. 1845.
* "Long house/granary".
* "Ash house", wooden "log building", and "dovecote".Self-guided tours may be made of the grounds during hours when the park is open to the public, including the farm, formal garden, family cemetery, and two stables built of stone for Thoroughbred horses. A replica of the original orangery (built in 1824) may also be toured. [The original wooden orangery, which burned down in 1926, was reconstructed on the original foundations in 1976] One surviving convert|34|ft|m|abbr=on (10.4m)–deep underground icehouse is visible near the mansion and is open to visitors. The Park Service provides ample free parking, a gift shop, and wheelchair accessibility at the mansion. Chamber music and harpsichord performances are occasionally presented in the mansion's ornate "great hall".

The local community actively supports the site's preservation through a non-profit friends' group, "Historic Hampton", which has assisted the National Park Service in achieving historical accuracy and interpretive potential of the interiors. In May 2008, a $195,000 challenge grant was announced by the National Park Service, matched by an equal amount to be raised by Historic Hampton, for further restoration of the mansion's interiors. [cite news |author=Lani Ingraham |title=Hampton mansion site receives challenge grant |publisher="Towson Times" |date=2008-05-07 ]

The "Tea Room" controversy

When the Hampton estate first opened to the public in 1949, the mansion's kitchen was converted into a small restaurant. Known as the "Tea Room", it was operated by a concessionaire for the next 50 years, serving lunches featuring "Hampton Imperial Crab" (backfin lump meat from the blue crab, baked and seasoned with spices) and other Chesapeake Bay seafood delicacies, served with a glass of sherry. A local newspaper columnist described the "Tea Room" as "offering gentility...a fireplace nearly as big as a wall and mullioned windows with sills that are nearly convert|2|ft|m thick. The view is rolling lawns...".cite news|title=Steeped in tradition, tea room was place for genteel |work=Towson Times |date=1999-01-28 | url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=659&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1222471&om=1 |accessdate=2008-01-19 ]

When the "Tea Room" was closed by the National Park Service on January 1 1999, officials said they did so because of the potential fire hazard posed by operating a kitchen in the main park building and the possibility of insect or rodent damage to historic items in the mansion. While it "may be a pleasant place to enjoy a meal...that is clearly less important than the need to preserve Hampton's buildings, objects and landscapes for future generations", the Park Service stated. Officials of Preservation Maryland said they were "disappointed" by the restaurant's closure, saying it helped attract visitors to the historic site. The former chairwoman of the Hampton women's committee—which raises money for various projects at Hampton—also criticized the decision. Since 2006, the women's group has renewed efforts to have the "Tea Room" re-opened, saying it would draw more visitors and repeat business from locals to the park. A Park Service spokesman was quoted as saying in October, 2006, that "The mansion is not going to be the site of any food operation", but has made no further comment since then. [cite news|author=Loni Ingraham|title='Brewhaha': Ladies want tea room opened|work=Towson Times|date=2006-10-18|url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=659&shobw=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1222484&om=1 |accessdate=2008-01-tb19 ] [cite news|author=Mary Katherine Scheeler|title=Hampton house named Towson Person of Year|work=Towson Times|date=2008-01-02|url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=659&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1327666&om=1 |accessdate=2008-01-19 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/hamp/ Hampton National Historic Site] — National Park Service official website
* [http://www.historichampton.org/ Historic Hampton Inc.]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/baltimore/index.htm Baltimore, Maryland, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary]