Established 1901
Visit the Historic Areas at London Town & Gardens
Originally built in 1760, Historic London Town & Gardens has served many purposes in Maryland.
William Brown House, c.1760
The crown jewel of London Town’s historic area. On the National Register of Historic Landmarks, the William Brown House has a free virtual tour!
Historical Tenement Site
Reconstructed on its archaeological footprint, the Tenement would have been rented to London Town’s lower-class workers.
Exhibit: Discover London Town
This exhibit, in the bottom floor of our Visitor Center, orients visitors to the history of the site and shares the archaeology findings that were uncovered.
History and Research
Dig deeper into Historic London Town & Garden’s colonial, almshouse and modern histories, discover the people of London Town, and explore additional research.
The History of London Town
London Town was founded in 1683 as Anne Arundel County’s seat. Its heyday lasted approximately 100 years, but the town soon dissipated due to change in trade routes. The only remaining historic structure on site is the William Brown House. Built in c.1760 as an upscale tavern, the William Brown House became the county’s almshouse from 1828 – 1965.
Today it is the centerpiece of our historic area, which also includes a reconstructed Carpenter’s Shop and Lord Mayor’s Tenement with demonstration garden, and an 18th century tobacco barn. Learn more about the history of our site in the Discover London Town exhibit in the Visitor Center. London Town was recently designated a Site of Memory by the UNESCO Slave Route Project. Find out more about London Town’s participation in the slave trade and the Slave Route Project here.
