Marietta House Museum
Encyclopedia
Marietta, is a historic home located in Glenn Dale
, Prince George's County
, Maryland
.
Marietta was built for Gabriel Duvall
, one of Prince George's County's most outstanding citizens. Born in 1752, Duvall pursued a career of public service which lasted for more than 60 years. After serving in several positions during the American Revolutionary War
, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates
, the United States Congress
, the Maryland Supreme Court, and as Comptroller of the Treasury
under Thomas Jefferson
. Soon after 1812, when he was appointed by President James Madison
to the U.S. Supreme Court
, Duvall began construction of Marietta. Over the next 20 years he developed the 325 acres (1.3 km²) plantation, and constructed a substantial rear wing for added living space. He served on the Supreme Court until 1835; in January of that year he retired to spend the rest of his life at Marietta, where he died in 1844. Marietta remained the residence of his heirs until 1902.
. It also used to serve as the headquarters of the Prince George's County Historical Society. The house is operated as a historic house museum, and is furnished to reflect three generations of Duvalls from 1815 to 1902. The Museum has a Junior Docent Program, which allows students above the age of 12 to become interactive in the history of the home. Various Events hosted by the museum are only possible with the help of the docents.
It was announced in 2010 that the Prince George's County's Parks and Recreation Department was considering closing Marietta due to slippage in the number of visitors.
Glenn Dale, Maryland
Glenn Dale is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,609 at the 2000 census...
, Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
History
Marietta is a -story brick Federal house, begun c. 1812, in a traditional I-house plan. It is an important example of a late Federal style brick house. The main block is five bays by two, and entrance is through the central bay of the south facade. Attached to the north of the main block at right angles is a two-story rear wing, built c. 1832, and attached to the west gable end is an L-shaped wing added in 1968. Marietta stands on terraced, landscaped grounds with two contemporary outbuildings: a brick law office and a stone and brick root cellar/harness storage room.Marietta was built for Gabriel Duvall
Gabriel Duvall
Gabriel Duvall was an American politician and jurist.-Career:Born in Prince George's County, Maryland, Duvall read law to enter the Bar in 1778. He married Florence Adams Washburne , the daughter of General Henry Gilman Washburne and Florence Adams Washburne, on 1778...
, one of Prince George's County's most outstanding citizens. Born in 1752, Duvall pursued a career of public service which lasted for more than 60 years. After serving in several positions during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, the Maryland Supreme Court, and as Comptroller of the Treasury
Comptroller of the Treasury
The Comptroller of the Treasury was an official of the United States Department of the Treasury from 1789 to 1817. According to section III of the Act of Congress establishing the Treasury Department, it is the comptroller's duty to...
under Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. Soon after 1812, when he was appointed by President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
to the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, Duvall began construction of Marietta. Over the next 20 years he developed the 325 acres (1.3 km²) plantation, and constructed a substantial rear wing for added living space. He served on the Supreme Court until 1835; in January of that year he retired to spend the rest of his life at Marietta, where he died in 1844. Marietta remained the residence of his heirs until 1902.
Marietta House Museum
The site is operated as the Marietta House Museum of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning CommissionMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
. It also used to serve as the headquarters of the Prince George's County Historical Society. The house is operated as a historic house museum, and is furnished to reflect three generations of Duvalls from 1815 to 1902. The Museum has a Junior Docent Program, which allows students above the age of 12 to become interactive in the history of the home. Various Events hosted by the museum are only possible with the help of the docents.
It was announced in 2010 that the Prince George's County's Parks and Recreation Department was considering closing Marietta due to slippage in the number of visitors.
External links
- Marietta, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:70-20, including photo in 1993, at Maryland Historical Trust website
- M-NCPPC Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County); Marietta, entry 70-020, p. 75
- Marietta House Museum - Prince George's County Dept. of Park & Recreation
- Prince George's County Historical Society