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 Charles Carroll House107 Duke of Gloucester Street Courtesy of the Charles Carroll House of Annapolis Faced with both persecution and restrictions for his faith, Charles Carroll of Carrollton secured his family's vision of personal, political and religious freedom for all citizens when he became the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Maryland is now the only state in America in which the homes of all of its signers still exist and all are preserved in Annapolis. The Carroll House is one of only fifteen surviving signer's birthplaces in the United States. The history of the Carroll family comes alive at this house and garden overlooking Spa Creek in Annapolis. Public programs, workshops, and special tours feature living history, 18th century teas, music, hands-on architectural history and archaeology. Celebrating three generations and an urban cultural landscape that spans over 300 years, the Carroll House is a restoration-in-progress. This site bears great historical significance to the state of Maryland and America as the home of Charles Carroll the Settler, first Attorney General of Maryland, his son, Charles Carroll of Annapolis, and his grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832). Hours Friday, Sundays and Federal holidays, 12 noon - 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Easter and weekends in January and February. Group and school tours by appointment Call 410-269-1737 Admission Adults $5, Seniors $4, Students (12-17 years) $2, Children (11 and under) free. Special group rates for schools, seniors, clubs and organizations (20 or more). Reception, Meeting and Conference Facilities Additional information available upon request for reserving use of historic rooms and waterfront terraced gardens. Location and Directions 107 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-2504 Take U.S. Rt. 50 to Rowe Blvd. around Church Circle to Duke of Gloucester Street. Turn right at second light behind St. Mary's Church. Phone: 410-269-1737, Fax 410-269-1746
Located in historic Annapolis, behind St. Mary's Church, the Charles Carroll House is the birthplace and urban home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Three generations of Carrolls lived in the waterfront site along Spa Creek (originally Carroll's Creek); the Carrolls were one of the wealthiest families in the Colonies. The house and its extensive grounds then included pleasure gardens featuring an earthen ramp down to Spa Creek, and many outbuildings. The Charles Carroll House wine cellar is an underground vaulted space of two levels with its base cellar twenty feet (two stories) below ground. It is built of varying types of stone atop a fresh water spring, with water running in a central channel under the floor acting as a natural cooling system. With built-in air shafts to the ground, its year-round temperature remains a perfect 56-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
This historic landmark has a strong connection to the history of wine in America. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was known to have an extensive collection of wines. In 1991 an artifact was unearthed at the site: an 18th Century wine bottle seal bearing the Carroll family crest. Charles Carroll had his own wine bottles manufactured, and while the glass was still molten, a seal--also made of glass--was affixed to the front. Charles Carroll House of Annapolis plans to reproduce the wine seal in pewter and silver, to be awarded to major donors of its restoration project. When the Redemptorists purchased the property from the Carroll family in the 19th Century they replanted Charles Carroll's terraced gardens with grapes, made wine and stored barrels in the wine cellar for parish and diocesan use. In support of the wine-making process, a wine press and a split level frame building was erected on top of the wine vaults, and a center shaft was rebuilt to lower barrels of wine down into the cellar. Wine production ceased and the grape arbors were razed between 1900 and 1910. The wine cellar was filled-in by the Redemptorists. The cellar was rediscovered and excavated in 1982. Volunteers including Boy Scouts removed seven dump truck loads of debris including brick, stone, oyster shells, soil, ashes, bottles, glass and trash. Preserving the house and grounds Charles Carroll House of Annapolis, Inc. (CCHA) was formed as a non-profit in 1987 to preserve the house and grounds. CCHA uses educational seminars, school programs, music and living history theater to bring to life the stories of the Carrolls and their 18th Century world. With assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, CCHA has recently signed a 90-year lease from the Redemptorists and manages this nationally significant, yet partially restored property. CCHA is committed to bringing this history alive for new generations in the 21st Century. Those interested in placing their name on the invitation list for future wine events and for information on how to participate in the restoration project, should call the Charles Carroll House, 410-269-1737.
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The Wine Cellar at Charles Carroll House
1991 discovery
Banneker-Douglass Museum