From Plantation to Suburb; a Community Grows
Town of Riverdale Park. A key factor in the initial development
of Riverdale Park in 1887 was its proximity
to Washington, D.C. By the end of the
19th century, transportation between
Riverdale Park and Washington was
extremely convenient by either the
Baltimore Turnpike, the B & O Railroad,
or the trolley line. The town was one of
Maryland’s first manifestations of that
social phenomenon that in the 20th century
spawned the “suburb.”
It was that same appealing location that provided the impetus for the building of
Riversdale mansion there in 1801, one year
after the federal city of Washington was
established. Riversdale was the home of
George Calvert, a descendant of the fifth
Lord Baltimore and father of Charles
Benedict, the founder of Maryland
Agricultural College which later became the
University of Maryland in nearby College
Park. Today the mansion is a source of pride
for residents of the town that now bears its
name (albeit slightly modified). An annual
celebration of the town’s heritage is held on
the grounds of the mansion, now registered
as a National Historic Landmark.
The town’s architecture is a mix of styles
ranging from Victorian bungalows to cape
cods to mid 20th-century ramblers. Its still
convenient location and small-town culture
explain Riverdale Park’s enduring popularity with old and new residents alike.
(captions) The Riversdale mansion, built between 1801 and 1807, underwent major renovation in the 1990s. • The french scenic wallpaper (1812–1814) in the dining room of Riversdale was preserved during the restoration efforts of the 1990s. • Today a reconstruction of the train station in the Town Center serves
the MARC commuter train, which provides a
10-minute ride to
Washington’s Union Station. • At the turn of the 20th century, a B&O train and a trolley line linked Riverdale Park to Washington, D.C. • This photograph of the Warren House was taken shortly after construction was completed in 1914. It was designated a Prince George’s County Historic Site in 1985. This is one of several historic homes that remain in Riverdale Park today.
Marker is at the intersection of Queensbury Road and Rhode Island Avenue on Queensbury Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
