Homewood Museum
Encyclopedia
The Homewood Museum is a historical museum
located on the Johns Hopkins University
campus in Baltimore
, Maryland
. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark
in 1971. It, along with Evergreen Museum & Library
, make up the Johns Hopkins University Museums.
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
, to his son Charles Carroll Jr. It occupied 140 acres (56.7 ha) acres in northern Baltimore and was first known as "Merryman's Lott." Carroll purchased the parcel in 1794. Charles Carroll Jr. began construction on a stately and modern country home of his own design in 1801 and had mostly finished by 1808. It cost $40,000, four times the budgeted expense. For reasons both personal and political, "Homewood" led to a severe breach in relations between father and son. Ultimately, Carroll Senior bought the house from his son in 1824 and managed the "most improvident waste" until his son's death the next year. The house then passed to Charles Carroll III, who lived there until he inherited the family estate, Doughoregan Manor
, from his grandfather.
The house was the birthplace of John Lee Carroll
in 1830, second son of Charles III, who would become Governor of Maryland
. In 1839, Charles Carroll III sold Homewood to Samuel Wyman, a Baltimore merchant, who lived there with his family until 1865. During the Wyman family's tenure, Wyman's son William commissioned Richard Upjohn
to build an Italianate mansion on the grounds, named "Homewood Villa." The Villa was demolished by Johns Hopkins University in 1954; however, the gatehouse to the estate remains, and can be seen as an example of the villa design. On Samuel Wyman's death the property was divided between his sons. In 1897, Homewood House became the first Gilman School
, known at its founding as The Country School for Boys. In 1902 the property was reassembled and given to Johns Hopkins University
.
In 1916 the mansion became the University Faculty Club. In 1936, Homewood was converted to administrative offices. Johns Hopkins University now operates Homewood Museum, which opened to the public in 1987, and its Federal style
architecture, with its red brick and white marble, serves as the inspiration for the campus' design.
. The house, while planned and massed in the Georgian style, uses Federal style detailing, reflecting influences of the English architecture of Robert Adam
. While Georgian architecture has significant surface relief, the Federal style is flatter, with smaller-scale details, as seen at Homewood. The four-columned portico dominates the main elevation.
The 1½ story central block was the center for formal entertainment, with a reception room, dining room and drawing room on the south side. The west wing was devoted to services, such as kitchens, while the east wing was for family use, on a more intimate basis than the main house. Unlike many five-part houses in the area, the central block did not have a full second floor, causing bedrooms and family areas to move into the wings.
Homewood is furnished today as it would have been in the 19th century. It is home to the Homewood Museum, which features period furnishings that complement its architecture.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located on the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
campus in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1971. It, along with Evergreen Museum & Library
Evergreen Museum & Library
Evergreen Museum & Library, also known as Evergreen House, is a historical museum of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It is located between the campuses of the College of Notre Dame and Loyola College...
, make up the Johns Hopkins University Museums.
History
The Homewood Estate was offered as a wedding gift in 1800 by Charles Carroll of CarrolltonCharles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, to his son Charles Carroll Jr. It occupied 140 acres (56.7 ha) acres in northern Baltimore and was first known as "Merryman's Lott." Carroll purchased the parcel in 1794. Charles Carroll Jr. began construction on a stately and modern country home of his own design in 1801 and had mostly finished by 1808. It cost $40,000, four times the budgeted expense. For reasons both personal and political, "Homewood" led to a severe breach in relations between father and son. Ultimately, Carroll Senior bought the house from his son in 1824 and managed the "most improvident waste" until his son's death the next year. The house then passed to Charles Carroll III, who lived there until he inherited the family estate, Doughoregan Manor
Doughoregan Manor
Doughoregan Manor is a mansion located on Manor Lane near Ellicott City, Maryland, USA. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on November 11, 1971.-History:...
, from his grandfather.
The house was the birthplace of John Lee Carroll
John Lee Carroll
John Lee Carroll , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 37th Governor of Maryland from 1876 to 1880.-Early life:...
in 1830, second son of Charles III, who would become Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
. In 1839, Charles Carroll III sold Homewood to Samuel Wyman, a Baltimore merchant, who lived there with his family until 1865. During the Wyman family's tenure, Wyman's son William commissioned Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn was an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and became most famous for his Gothic Revival churches. He was partially responsible for launching the movement to such popularity in the United States. Upjohn also did extensive work in and helped to popularize the...
to build an Italianate mansion on the grounds, named "Homewood Villa." The Villa was demolished by Johns Hopkins University in 1954; however, the gatehouse to the estate remains, and can be seen as an example of the villa design. On Samuel Wyman's death the property was divided between his sons. In 1897, Homewood House became the first Gilman School
Gilman School
Gilman School is a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1897 as the Country School for Boys, it was the first country day school in the United States. Gilman enrolls approximately 978 students, ranging from kindergarten to...
, known at its founding as The Country School for Boys. In 1902 the property was reassembled and given to Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.
In 1916 the mansion became the University Faculty Club. In 1936, Homewood was converted to administrative offices. Johns Hopkins University now operates Homewood Museum, which opened to the public in 1987, and its Federal style
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
architecture, with its red brick and white marble, serves as the inspiration for the campus' design.
Architecture
Homewood exhibits a Palladian-inspired five-part plan, that reflects harmony in the proportions and sophisticated details in its construction. The five-part plan is based on a central block comprising the main residence, with flanking pavilions or dependencies linked to the center by hyphensHyphen (architecture)
In architecture, a hyphen is a connecting link between two larger building elements. It is typically found in Georgian style architecture, where the hyphens form connections between a large central house and end pavilions in the Georgian five-part house, which was in turn derived from Palladian...
. The house, while planned and massed in the Georgian style, uses Federal style detailing, reflecting influences of the English architecture of Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
. While Georgian architecture has significant surface relief, the Federal style is flatter, with smaller-scale details, as seen at Homewood. The four-columned portico dominates the main elevation.
The 1½ story central block was the center for formal entertainment, with a reception room, dining room and drawing room on the south side. The west wing was devoted to services, such as kitchens, while the east wing was for family use, on a more intimate basis than the main house. Unlike many five-part houses in the area, the central block did not have a full second floor, causing bedrooms and family areas to move into the wings.
Homewood is furnished today as it would have been in the 19th century. It is home to the Homewood Museum, which features period furnishings that complement its architecture.
External links
- Homewood Museum - official site
- Homewood, National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Homewood, Baltimore City, including photo in 1996, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Homewood, North Charles & Thirty-fourth Streets, Baltimore, Independent City, MD: 34 drawings, 176 photos, 6 data pages, 9 photo caption pages, at Historic American Building Survey
- Homewood, Privy, North Charles & Thirty-Fourth Streets, Baltimore, Independent City, MD: 1 drawing, 10 photos, 1 data page, 1 photo caption page, at Historic American Building Survey