Riversdale Historical Society

Riversdale Historical Society 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

Reminder - Tonight's the night!Enjoy another summer of Shakespeare in the Parks, presented by the Maryland-National Capi...
06/16/2026

Reminder - Tonight's the night!

Enjoy another summer of Shakespeare in the Parks, presented by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. This free, family-friendly tour brings professional outdoor theater performances to parks across Prince George’s County.

This year’s featured production is "As You Like It" — one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Follow Rosalind and her companions into the Forest of Arden for an evening filled with romance, humor, music, mistaken identities, and adventure. Perfect for audiences of all ages, this charming production celebrates love, laughter, and the joy of being yourself.

Performance Information
Riversdale Historic Site and Museum
Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM
Rain date: Wednesday, June 17

What to Bring:
• Lawn chair or blanket
• Picnic dinner encouraged
• Leashed pets welcome

Today is National Cucumber Day! If you're tired of eating your fresh, cool cucumbers, here's a recipe from 1747 for pick...
06/14/2026

Today is National Cucumber Day!

If you're tired of eating your fresh, cool cucumbers, here's a recipe from 1747 for pickling your cucumber slices. Let us know if you give it a try!

Today is World Doll Day. Pictured here is a doll often on display in the nursery at Riversdale. Taking a look through Mr...
06/13/2026

Today is World Doll Day.
Pictured here is a doll often on display in the nursery at Riversdale. Taking a look through Mrs. Calvert’s letters reveals the importance of dolls, not just as a child's toy but also as a fashion necessity. As early as the 14th century, fashion dolls were in use at European royal courts to show qualities of fabrics, trims, and accessories and to display the workmanship of tailors, dressmakers, wigmakers, hatmakers, etc. Before TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, or fashion magazines, you had fashion dolls.

In 1817, Rosalie Calvert was busy preparing for her daughter Caroline's introduction into Washington society. Like any anxious mother in Federal Era society, Rosalie knew that a proper introduction into high society was imperative in order to find good matches for her children. Caroline had the added advantage of having an aunt (Isabelle van Havre) in Belgium who was ready and able to send her the latest European styles so she could be one step ahead of the competition. Caroline received a trunk from her aunt in November 1817 full of dresses, lace, chemisettes, floral garlands, hats, turbans, and more! Also included in the trunk was a fashion doll dressed by Isabelle's daughter Louise.

Rosalie wrote to Isabelle, "Please thank Louise for the doll which she outfitted by hand -- the first time Caroline goes out she intends to have her hair arranged exactly like that." It seems that the Calvert ladies shared their doll (displaying the latest European fashions) with their friends because a month later Rosalie wrote, "Tell my dear Louise that the doll is much admired. Eugenia carries it into the room when our friends come to call and, together with the little fashion designs, it has often helped the conversation along immensely..." The doll didn't just help start conversations, it also helped launch Caroline's sucess debut into Washington society.


Celebrate dad with an afternoon filled with history. Learn about the history of the fathers and father figures who lived...
06/13/2026

Celebrate dad with an afternoon filled with history. Learn about the history of the fathers and father figures who lived and worked at this former plantation from the beginning of its construction in 1801 through Emancipation in 1864.

Event information:
Father's Day Tours
Sunday, June 21, 2026, Noon & 2 PM 
$5/Adult, $4/Senior, $2/Student, Children 4 and under are free. Free admission for dads!

Want to register now?
https://tinyurl.com/RegisterRiversdale

As the storms rolled through the area this evening one of our followers caught this rainbow over Riversdale. 🌈📷: Brandi ...
06/13/2026

As the storms rolled through the area this evening one of our followers caught this rainbow over Riversdale. 🌈
📷: Brandi Cowgill

Free produce! 🌱🫜🥬🫛 We have a little extra harvest to share from the gardens today. We have lettuce, kale (4 types! - gre...
06/11/2026

Free produce! 🌱🫜🥬🫛

We have a little extra harvest to share from the gardens today. We have lettuce, kale (4 types! - green & red curly, dinosaur, red Russian, and unicorn), Swiss chard, spicy frilly mustard greens, turnips, beets, kohlrabi, and peas available for you to pick up.

The extras are on a table next to the dependency kitchen today (under plastic to prevent wilting). 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!

Today is the 227th wedding anniversary of Rosalie Stier and George Calvert. 🍾 They were married in Annapolis, likely whe...
06/11/2026

Today is the 227th wedding anniversary of Rosalie Stier and George Calvert. 🍾 They were married in Annapolis, likely where the Stiers were living at the time, now known as the William Paca House. Rosalie and George were married for twenty-two years and had nine children together. 

We're very thankful to have had their original marriage license on loan to us from the Calvert family!

The outdoor concert featuring is still on for tonight! Bring your chairs and picnics and enjoy a relaxing evening of li...
06/10/2026

The outdoor concert featuring is still on for tonight! Bring your chairs and picnics and enjoy a relaxing evening of live music on the lawn.

Today is National Children's Day! Rosalie Calvert had a great deal of pride in her children. She had nine children, five...
06/08/2026

Today is National Children's Day!

Rosalie Calvert had a great deal of pride in her children. She had nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood. On 24 May 1814, she wrote to her sister Isabelle to congratulate her on the birth of her daughter, Clementine. In her letter she included these thoughts on her own children.


Enjoy another summer of Shakespeare in the Parks, presented by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commissio...
06/07/2026

Enjoy another summer of Shakespeare in the Parks, presented by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Arts and Cultural Heritage Division. This free, family-friendly tour brings professional outdoor theater performances to parks across Prince George’s County.

This year’s featured production is "As You Like It" — one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Follow Rosalind and her companions into the Forest of Arden for an evening filled with romance, humor, music, mistaken identities, and adventure. Perfect for audiences of all ages, this charming production celebrates love, laughter, and the joy of being yourself.

Performance Information
Riversdale Historic Site and Museum
Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM
Rain date: Wednesday, June 17

What to Bring:
• Lawn chair or blanket
• Picnic dinner encouraged
• Leashed pets welcome

Address

4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD
20737

Telephone

+13018640420

Website

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