Hammond-Harwood House, Annapolis

The Hammond-Harwood House is a historic mansion built in 1774 for Matthias Hammond, a lawyer and planter. The house was designed by architect William Buckland, who used ideas from the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Buckland followed plans published in Palladio’s famous book I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura. Because of this, the building is often studied as one of the clearest examples of Palladian design used in an early American home.

The brick house was designed with balanced proportions and tall windows. A central main section connects to smaller wings through curved passageways, forming a symmetrical layout. Inside are plaster ceilings, carved woodwork, and a staircase that reflect the craftsmanship of colonial homes.

The property stayed in private hands for many years before preservation began in the twentieth century. In 1940 the Hammond-Harwood House Association bought the building and opened it as a museum. Today the rooms display furniture, paintings, and decorative objects from the eighteenth century. Guided tours help visitors learn about the architecture of the house and the daily lives of the families who once lived there.