Hampton National Historic Site (NHS) can best be understood through the story of its people—those who labored across centuries and the seven generations of the Ridgely family who gained wealth, status, and influence from that labor. Visitors can engage with the personal stories of the communities that toiled at the ironworks, in the fields, gardens and orchards, on the docks and aboard ships, and inside the mansion, making Hampton an example of the story of America.
The Ridgely family featured many family members who were accomplished in a wide variety of endeavors and interests. Politically influential members of the family included a governor of Maryland and an internationally renowned diplomat who helped to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I. Those with more creative passions included a horticulturist who transformed Hampton’s landscape and an artist and antiquarian who researched and wrote books on Maryland history and architecture. Humanitarian minded members included a missionary who founded a school for young women in Africa and a civic leader who founded organizations to assist the impoverished women and children in Baltimore City. A visit to Hampton NHS allows visitors to travel back in time to experience snapshots of American history. Without the wide range of people and their contributions, Hampton would not have existed at all. By learning about all these individuals, visitors can connect all aspects of the site, from the buildings to the grounds to the experiences across time of enslaved, indentured, and free people. Discover more about how their lives intertwined and how their goals and hardships played out against the backdrop of America’s development as the nation struggled to define its own concept of freedom.
|
Last updated: September 5, 2024