Seton Hill in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mother Seton House
This house, built around 1807, was the home of Saint Elizabeth Bayley Seton, the first American-born canonized saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
Born in New York to a prominent Protestant family, Elizabeth Ann Bayley married William M. Seton in 1794. Widowed in 1803, she became Catholic in 1805.
Father William Dubourg, S.S., President of Saint Mary's College, invited her to establish a school in Baltimore. Elizabeth Seton arrived in Baltimore on June 16, 1808, moved into this house and opened a Catholic elementary school here the following September. The school is regarded as the beginning of the Catholic school system in the United States.
In 1809, Mother Seton founded the first American community of nuns, then known as the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. In June of the same year the little group moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland
The Sisters, whose motherhouse continued to be at Emmitsburg, formally united in 1850 with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Other Sisters of Charity who also trace their origins to Mother Seton founded distinct communities in Cincinnati, Ohio; Convent Station, New Jersey; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and New York City.
Restoration work on this home (now a museum) was begun in 1937-1939 and completed in June 1963.
Erected by the City of Baltimore, AAA Automobile Club of Maryland and William Donald Schaefer, Mayor.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Science & Medicine • Women. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Baltimore City historical markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1735.
Location. 39° 17.746′ N, 76° 37.37′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Seton Hill. Marker can be reached from North Paca Street, on the left when traveling north. Due to a brick wall around the front yard, the marker is not visible from the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 North Paca Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Mary's Historic Site (a few steps from this marker); St. Mary's Seminary Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); How did this park get its name? (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mary's Seminary (within shouting distance of this marker); Sons of St. Mary's: Called to Serve, Educated to Lead (within shouting distance of this marker); 600 Jasper Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 619 North Paca Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Chapel of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
More about this marker. The marker has a reproduction of a painting of Mother Seton on it.
Additional commentary.
1. St. Mary's Seminary Chapel
The Mother Seton House is adjacent to St. Mary's Seminary Chapel, a National Historic Landmark. The Chapel was built between 1806 and 1808 by architect Maximilien Godefroy.
— Submitted March 5, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,011 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 5, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 6, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 5. submitted on March 5, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.