William Paca House & Garden

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William Paca, one of Maryland’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence and the state’s third Governor, built this five-part Georgian home in the 1760s. Historic Annapolis began meticulously restoring it in 1965, and it is now regarded as one of the finest 18th-century residences in the country and a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours of the house, which has period furnishings and artworks, expose the inner workings of a colonial and revolutionary Annapolis upper-class household.
The two-acre colonial William Paca Garden, painstakingly restored to its original glory utilising features culled from old artwork and archaeological investigations, is a charming respite from the city’s bustle. While exploring the tiered landscape’s formal Parterres, naturalistic Wilderness, and functional Kitchen garden, visitors can see native and heritage plants. Guests are invited to cross a latticework bridge across a fish-shaped pond to reach the lovely Summerhouse. Weddings, receptions, and other special events are commonly held in the garden.

History of the William Paca House & Garden

William Paca was a patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and later served as the third Governor of Maryland. The young lawyer built a five-part brick house and tiered pleasure garden on two acres of land in Annapolis after marrying the rich and well-connected Mary Chew in 1763. The couple had three children, but only one of them lived to adulthood, and they spent several months caring for an orphaned niece. The home housed a number of servants and enslaved labourers in addition to Paca family members. Though the exact number of enslaved people that lived in the house is unknown, the names of five people are known: Denby, Affey, Poll, Sall, and Bett.
After William Paca sold it in 1780, it remained a single-family residence until 1801, when it became mostly a rental property for the rest of the nineteenth century. Catherine Steele Ray, a widow whose sons-in-law, both graduates of the adjacent United States Naval Academy, fought on opposing sides in the Civil War, bought it in 1864.
The property was purchased in 1901 by national tennis champion William Larned, who rebuilt it into a hotel with a big expansion connected to the back of the colonial house and spreading over most of the former garden. Carvel Hall was Annapolis’ best hotel for much of the twentieth century. Marcellus Hall, an African-American hotel employee, came to personify the hotel’s renowned kindness for generations of customers. He began his career as a bellboy in 1913 and rose through the ranks to become Superintendent of Services when Carvel Hall closed its doors for the final time in 1965.
In 1965, Historic Annapolis and the State of Maryland purchased the Paca mansion and the rest of the Carvel Hall site, fearing that developers would demolish the home of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. The William Paca House and Garden were restored to their 18th-century appearances over the next decade by a team of experts, including archival researchers, archaeologists, architectural historians, paint analysts, x-ray photographers, carpenters, masons, landscape designers, horticulturists, and other skilled professionals. In 1971, the site was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

William Paca House & Garden Location

186 Prince George Street Annapolis, MD 21401
410.990.4543
http://www.annapolis.org/

From Hillman Garage on Main Street

After exiting the garage, turn left onto Main Street. Take Francis Street up to State Circle, turning right at the fork in the road on Main Street. Make a right on State Circle and continue around the circle to East Street. Turn right into East Street and continue walking for three blocks to Prince George Street. Make a U-turn. At 186 Prince George Roadway, the William Paca House will be on the right side of the street.
From Gotts Court Garage on West Street
Turn left out of the garage into West Street. Proceed to Church Circle. Make a left at Church Circle. Exit the circle at College Avenue and proceed straight to Prince George Street, past the St. John’s College campus lawn. Turn right onto Prince George Street and travel approximately 112 blocks. 186 Prince George Street is the William Paca House on the left.
From Bladen Street Garage on the corner of Calvert and St. John’s Street
Turn right out of the garage into St. John’s Street. Then turn left into College Avenue and go to Prince George Street, passing the grounds of St. John’s College. Turn right onto Prince George Street and travel approximately 112 blocks. 186 Prince George Street is the William Paca House on the left.