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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

The Rossborough Inn

 
 
The Rossborough Inn Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 2007
1. The Rossborough Inn Marker
Inscription. Erected in 1798 in the infancy of the nation and a few years before the founding of the University of Maryland. The Rossborough Inn stands as one of the landmarks of the nation's and of the University's growth. This historic structure has been restored by the University of Maryland with the aid of the federal government and is dedicated to the spirit of loyalty and the traditions of democracy as exemplified in its alumni and students. Placed June 2, 1939, with appropriate exercises by the alumni association of the University of Maryland.
 
Erected 1939 by Alumni Association of the University of Maryland.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AgricultureEducationLandmarksNotable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is June 2, 1747.
 
Location. 38° 59.116′ N, 76° 56.255′ W. Marker is in College Park, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue (U.S. 1) and Rossborough Lane, on the right when traveling south on Baltimore Avenue. The Rossborough Inn is part of the University of Maryland, College Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: College Park MD 20742, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Agricultural Experiment Station (a few steps from this marker); “On the Shoulders of Giants”
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(a few steps from this marker); Blair Lee III (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clarence Mitchell, Jr. (approx. 0.2 miles away); "May Peace Prevail on Earth" (approx. 0.2 miles away); University of Maryland Memorial Chapel (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Zeta Beta Chapter of Order of Omega (approx. 0.2 miles away); "The University of Maryland Is Deeply Rooted in History" (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College Park.
 
Regarding The Rossborough Inn. The Rossborough Inn was built between 1798 and 1812, its construction completed by speculator John Ross. It served as a traveler's rest on the turnpike between Baltimore and Washington D.C.; but by 1835 the inn had become a farmhouse and barn on land owned by Charles Benedict Calvert. In 1858, Calvert donated 420 acres of his Riversdale Plantation, including the farmhouse, to help found what was then called the Maryland Agricultural College. Calvert served as the first president of its Board of Regents, and is considered the father of the university. He died in 1864 at age 56.

The Rossborough
The Rossborough Inn Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Adam Margolis
2. The Rossborough Inn Marker
Inn was a private faculty residence in July of 1864 when the campus was briefly occupied by a Confederate cavalry brigade led by Gen. Bradley T. Johnson. The general made the home his headquarters for several hours, and tradition holds that he and his men were warmly welcomed by local Confederate sympathizers. The building has served a variety of functions for the university in recent years.
 
Also see . . .  Civil War in Prince George's County. (Submitted on August 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
 
Rossborough Inn - Prince George's County Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 1, 2007
3. Rossborough Inn - Prince George's County Historic Landmark
Rossborough Inn - University of Maryland, College Park image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 1, 2007
4. Rossborough Inn - University of Maryland, College Park
The Rossborough Inn image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 28, 2013
5. The Rossborough Inn
The Rossborough Inn, 1926 image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Kellerman
6. The Rossborough Inn, 1926
Front view showing English elms and dairy barns of the University of Maryland to right where original stables stood.
From Kellerman's History and Construction of the Rossburg Inn, 1926
The Rossborough Inn, 1926 image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Kellerman
7. The Rossborough Inn, 1926
South view showing rear building used for kitchen and well to left.
From Kellerman's History and Construction of the Rossburg Inn, 1926
The mansard roof was added in 1888 and removed again in 1938 when the WPA renovated the old inn.
Head of Silenus<br>Above the door arch at the Rossborough Inn image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 28, 2013
8. Head of Silenus
Above the door arch at the Rossborough Inn
Silenus was the tutor of Dionysus. He philosophized that it is best for a man not to be born, but once born, it is best to die as soon as possible.
T. Coade London<br>1793 image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 28, 2013
9. T. Coade London
1793
Coade Stone was an artificial stone (lithodipyra) produced by Eleanor Coade in the 18th and early 19th century.
The Rossborough Inn Historic Site Tablet image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Adam Margolis
10. The Rossborough Inn Historic Site Tablet
Agricultural Experiment Station Centenniel image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 2007
11. Agricultural Experiment Station Centenniel
First Headquarters of the University of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. Placed here on the occasion of the station's centennial, March 3, 1988.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5,351 times since then and 82 times this year. Last updated on July 2, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos:   1. submitted on December 12, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.   2. submitted on January 16, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.   3, 4. submitted on December 12, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.   5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 31, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.   10. submitted on January 9, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California.   11. submitted on December 12, 2007, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 29, 2024