While under the ownership of the Carroll family for 150 years, most of the inhabitants of our site were enslaved African Americans. The Carroll family once owned one of the largest enslaved populations in the State of Maryland, contributing to Charles Carroll of Carrollton’s vast wealth and helping him become one of the richest men in North America during his lifetime.
At Carrollton Hall, we encourage visitors to look both inside and outside the walls of our historic structure for evidence of the lived experience of enslaved individuals. In addition to design intricacies and craftsmanship that went into the creation of Carrollton Hall, enslaved labor contributed to the physical landscape of the surrounding gardens and fields. On our tours, we examine the agrarian landscape to understand the extraordinary effort and ingenuity enslaved laborers were forced to perform to mold what we see from its natural state. We explore how the design of the house reflected the need to oversee, but also keep from view, the enslaved people responsible for the building’s construction and the daily running of the household.
We also recognize and celebrate the contributions of enslaved and free black communities to the physical, economic, and social landscape we see now in our Maryland communities. Carrollton Hall serves as a place-based focal point to help explore these broader historical narratives.
The story of Carrollton Hall is incomplete without the voices of those who lived a complex life amid a matrix of social and racial inequalities. The descendants of enslaved communities have important stories to tell and perspectives to share. If you would like to contact our team about family ties to Carrollton Hall, please email info@carrolltonhall.org.