Riversdale

  • Also Known As: Calvert Mansion

  • Address: 4811 Riverdale Rd
  • Vicinity: Between 18th St and Taylor St
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

Riversdale's architectural significance derives from its role as one of the best late Georgian, five-part houses in Maryland. The Federal interior is of such high quality as to support the local tradition that attributes the design to William Thornton, architect of the Capitol. However, the available information on Thornton does not support the tradition. The historical significance of Riversdale rests with its builder, Henri Joseph the Baron de Stier, and his son-in-law George Calvert, who inherited the property. In 1794 de Stier immigrated to the United States from Belgium, which the French army had occupied. He lived in Anne Arundel County and in the Brice House in Annapolis immediately before building Riversdale, which he modeled after one of his European house. In 1799, de Stier's daughter married George Calvert, a descendant of the Lords Baltimore. Four years later, de Stier decided to return to Europe, leaving his Prince George's County residence in charge of his daughter and son-in-law. Charles Benedict Calvert succeeded his father as master of Riversdale. He devoted his life to agriculture through his supervision of this 2000-acre farm and through county, state, and national agricultural societies. His efforts through the United States Agricultural Society were responsible for the creation of the Department of Agriculture in 1853. Henry Clay often visited Calvert at Riversdale, staying in the northeast bedroom. Tradition maintains that he wrote a draft for the Compromise of 1850 while in that room. - Maryland Historical Trust


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1801/00/00 Henri Joseph Stier, Baron de Stier Architect Henri Josef Stier and his wife Marie Louise Peeters begin building Riversdale Mansion to resemble thier Belgian home, Chateau du Mick.
1802/08/00 Dr William Thornton Architect Central portion of Riversdale Mansion is completed and the Stiers move.
1803/06/00 George Calvert Architect Henri Stier and his wife Marie returne to Belgium, George and Rosalie move to Riversdale.
1806/00/00 George Calvert Owner Riversdale Mansion hyphens and wings are built c 1830 by George Calvert.
1810/00/00 Except for a few paintings hung at Riversdale, from 1794 to 1816 Stier's art is stored. Rosalie wrote: Last year we opened one case, it smelled like paint. I wiped the surface with a silk handkerchief, thus removing white spots that looked like mold.
1816/02/00 Henri Joseph Stier, Baron de Stier Life Rosalie receives her father's letter dated December 1815 that she is to send the painting to him in Belgium.
1816/04/00 Gilbert Stuart Life Persuaded by Rembrandt Peale and Gilbert Stuart "that it would be a public wrong that such a collection of pictures - the like of which had never been in America - should pass out of the country entirely unenjoyed", Calverts open their home to visitors.
1816/04/00 Rembrandt Peale Life Persuaded by Rembrandt Peale and Gilbert Stuart "that it would be a public wrong that such a collection of pictures - the like of which had never been in America - should pass out of the country entirely unenjoyed", Calverts open their home to visitors.
1821/00/00 George Calvert Owner George Calvert buys Rubens' Romulus and Remus and ships the painting back across the Atlantic to Riversdale.
1850/00/00 Henry Clay Guest Henry Clay often visits Calvert at Riversdale, staying in the northeast bedroom. Tradition maintains that he wrote a draft for the Compromise of 1850 while in that room. Compromise of 1850
1926/01/00 Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway Owner Thomas H Pickford sells the estate to Senator Thaddeus Caraway of Arkansas, and this action occasions a bitter confrontation between Senator Johnson with both Pickford and Caraway.
1929/00/00 Senator Johnson having expected to be able to renew his lease as long as he retained his seat in Congress, remains at Riversdale as long as his lease permits. Caraway exercises his right in the spring of 1929, and the Johnsons move out of the mansion.

Data »

Particulars for Riversdale:
Area of Significance Agriculture
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Building
Architectural Style Federal Style
Architectural Style Georgian Architecture
Criteria Historic Event
Historic Use Single dwelling
Area of Significance Social History
Owner State



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 73002166
Resource Type:
Owner: Local, State
Architect: de Stier,Baron; Calvert,George
Architectural Style: Federal, Georgian
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: State
Area of Significance: Architecture, Agriculture, Social history
Applicable Criteria: Architecture-Engineering, Event
Period of Significance: 1800-1824, 1825-1849
Significant Year: 1801, c 1830
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Single dwelling
Current Function: Government
Current Sub-Function: Government office

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