Riversdale Historical Society

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Riversdale Historical Society

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Today, this architectural gem has been restored to reflect the lifestyle of the Calverts in the early 19th century.

Riversdale, an elegant Federal home, was constructed between 1801 and 1807 for Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore. Archaeology, archival records, and oral histories are used to provide modern-day visitors with a better understanding of 19th century life. Rosalie Calvert's letters are used to piece together the life of a gentry-class woman living in rural Maryland. Adam Francis Plummer, an enslaved man owned by the Calverts, wrote a rare first-person account of slavery. Their stories have been preserved and are retold at Riversdale. The museum is open to the public for docent-guided tours and for a variety of special events. It may also be rented for weddings, receptions, luncheons, and business meetings. The Riversdale Historical Society, a volunteer organization, works with M-NCPPC staff to preserve the cultural heritage of Riversdale and maintain the mansion as an historic house. This page is run by the Riversdale Historical Society. For more information, visit us at www.riversdale.org or http://history.pgparks.com

11/02/2026

It is National Fig Week! There are so many ways to enjoy figs, but did you know that the leaves have a number of uses too? Check out this recipe, published in 1827, for using fig leaves to get stains out of cloth!

11/01/2026

Today is National Vinegar Day - take a look at this recipe for the Vinegar of the Four Thieves, published in 1824. The recipe is actually much older!

Four thieves vinegar is a historic herbal infusion made of vinegar, garlic, and aromatic herbs that legend says protected 17th-century grave robbers from the bubonic plague. While the tale is legendary, the ingredients (such as garlic, rosemary, and thyme) actually possess natural antimicrobial and flea-repelling properties that may have provided some protection against the disease and it's carriers.

10/29/2026

! 🥬🍅🥕

There's extra produce to share from the gardens today: dill, sorrel, parsley, lemon verbena, Thai basil, kale, mustard greens, salad radishes, larger radishes (watermelon, daikon, wasabi daikon), carrots, sweet peppers, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and a few purple hot peppers and snap beans.

They are on a table next to the Dependency kitchen. Please bring your own container/bag to take some produce home with you. They will be out until they are gone or until tomorrow morning.

Just a gentle reminder - please do not pick any produce or flowers from the Riversdale gardens. When we have a surplus, we are happy to share. Keep an eye on our social media to see what's available to pick up!

10/28/2026

Join Riversdale Historic Site & Museum staff for a 1-hour guided tour after hours. October 29th: This reflective evening program explores stories of life, loss, and legacy at the historic site, honoring those who lived and labored there through primary sources and thoughtful interpretation.

$5/person, registration is requested:
https://tinyurl.com/RegisterRiversdale

10/27/2026

Happy ! 🍺

America's b**r history goes back thousands of years; Native Americans brewed the popular beverage using birch sap, corn, and water for fermentation. Home brewing was common in Federal Era America. In fall 1800, about three decades before D.G. Yuengling & Son was established, Rosalie Calvert's mother included b**r-making in her idyllic vision of what life would be like at Riversdale:

"We will have the best fruits in the county, wonderful c***r, and b**r which we will brew jointly... We will always have a horse ready to mount.... [and] a fine carriage or coach to take us to the city and to do our errands. All we have to do is get started."

Cheers! 🍻

**r **rday **rhistory

10/26/2026

Today is National Pumpkin Day 🥧

Pumpkin pie as we recognize it today - with a flaky crust and creamy, spiced filling - took shape in the 18th century. In 1796, Amelia Simmons published "American Cookery," the first known American-authored cookbook. Check out her recipes for the crust ('paste') and the filling ('pudding'). Will you try to recreate it?

10/25/2026

Mystery Item - Answer!

Did you guess a spider skillet? That's what it is!

A spider skillet is a three-legged cast-iron or hand-forged frying pan designed to sit directly over hot coals in an open hearth or campfire. The pan features three (or sometimes four) built-in or riveted metal legs that elevate it off the ground or hearth floor so it can balance directly above burning embers without needing a separate trivet or grate. The skillet includes a long handle that keeps the cook's hand safely away from the fire.

The name comes from the spider-like appearance of the long legs extending down from the body of the pan.

10/25/2026

Mystery Item

We know it's a pan but it has a specific name/use! In the 1800s, this type of pan could have been found in a kitchen or at a campsite. This one is a reproduction and is used by Riversdale Kitchen Guild volunteers during their cooking demonstrations. The pan is made of cast iron.

HINT: The name of the pan is the same as the creepy crawlies that are sometimes part of Halloween decorations.

Give us your best guesses!

We'll post the answer later today.

10/23/2026

Join us for a FREE tour on Sunday, November 1st, to commemorate Maryland Emancipation Day in 1864. Discover the history of those who lived and worked at this former plantation. Tours are at Noon & 2 PM.

This is a 1-hour guided tour. Please arrive at the Visitor Center 5 to 10 minutes early to register.

Registration is encouraged: https://tinyurl.com/RegisterRiversdale

10/22/2026

! 🥬🍅🥔🍐

There's extra produce to share from the gardens today: Head lettuce, leeks, fennel, radishes (small red and larger daikon), lots of mustard greens, tomatoes (mostly green), sweet peppers, long Trombocino summer squash, eggplant, beans, okra, hibiscus, hot peppers, a few sweet potatoes, and ripe pears.

They are on a table next to the Dependency kitchen. Please bring your own container/bag to take some produce home with you. They will be out until they are gone or until tomorrow morning.

Just a gentle reminder - please do not pick any produce or flowers from the Riversdale gardens. When we have a surplus, we are happy to share. Keep an eye on our social media to see what's available to pick up!

Address

4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD
20737

Telephone

+13018640420

Website

http://www.riversdale.org/

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