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Hampton National Historic Site is one of my absolute favorite places to visit, and it was only about an hour from where I lived in York County, PA. Not only do I find the mansion enchanting, the grounds are so quiet and well-manicured you’ll want to have a picnic; which you’re able to do, by the way. You can sit there all day if you want to. Small group tours of the interior and other buildings on the property are offered..
The Hampton mansion was built in Georgian Architecture somewhere between 1783-1790 by the Ridgely family. While it is certainly a beautiful place to visit, it does have some dark history. There is a somber feeling knowing the Ridgely family had slaves. They were made to do the hard manual labor and kept as indentured servants. They bought hundreds of slaves over the years, and only freed them when it became illegal to own them any longer. Some say the mansion is haunted, and we did have an odd experience during one trip, but that’s a blog post for another time. If you’re curious or believe in the paranormal, search google for stories about this property and you’ll likely find some.
The interior of the Hampton mansion is adorned with ornate frames and furnishings, expensive fabrics, paintings of family members, and pretty decorative wood moldings every room. The rooms are large and have plenty to look at; but you aren’t allowed to touch anything and must stay behind the railings in some areas to preserve the furnishings, which isn’t unheard of in a property of this age. Unlike some mansions that don’t allow photos to be taken of the interior, you are allowed to take photos inside Hampton mansion.
There is plenty to see and take photos of on the grounds. There are greenhouses and, while not in use and broken, there’s something about them that makes you want to peek inside and wish you could see them in their prime. There is an underground area for cold storage, a family cemetery, and other buildings you can visit on the guided tour including stables and the more recent farmhouse the family moved into eventually. In the rear of the house there is a nice garden during the warmer months. The mansion sits atop a small hill overlooking the gardens on one side and down to a lower field on the other.
Click here to read about our visit to Hampton Mansion during Holidays at Hampton during the Christmas season: https://www.caffeinatedslothblog.com/holidays-at-hampton/
You can learn more about the experiences of those who were enslaved at Hampton, the Ridgely’s family history, and plan your visit at: https://www.nps.gov/hamp/index.htm
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