Historic Inns of Annapolis

Historic Inns of Annapolis is a hospitality collection comprising the Maryland Inn, Governor Calvert House, and Robert Johnson House in the historic center of Annapolis, Maryland. Rather than representing a conventional hotel chain with standardized purpose-built properties, the brand brings together historically significant buildings adapted for guest accommodation. Its setting, architecture, and association with Annapolis's colonial and early national history are central to the guest proposition. The Maryland Inn is the best-known of the three properties and occupies a prominent location near Church Circle. Its origins reach back to the late eighteenth century. Merchant and civic leader Thomas Hyde acquired a long-term lease on a Church Circle lot in 1772 and built the front portion of the structure. By 1782, the building was being promoted as a substantial house of entertainment, and Sarah Ball was operating a tavern there in 1784. The inn remained an important lodging establishment through the nineteenth century. In 1868 it was acquired by the Maryland Hotel Company and became a prominent Annapolis hotel used by political, military, and other distinguished visitors. After its facilities became outdated around the First World War, parts of the building were converted to offices and apartments. A 1953 restoration sought to preserve its Colonial character while adding modern amenities. Governor Calvert House occupies a site at 58 State Circle associated with Charles Calvert, Maryland's governor from 1720 to 1727. The original house, dating from the 1720s, was damaged severely by fire in 1764. Its surviving fabric was incorporated into a later Georgian-style building, which Maryland used as barracks until 1784. Subsequent owners enlarged and altered the property, including the addition of Victorian features by Annapolis mayor Abram Claude. In the twentieth century, restoration planning led by Paul Pearson in cooperation with Historic Annapolis involved archaeological and architectural investigation. That work identified features of the earlier structure, including a hypocaust heating system in the basement. Robert Johnson House consists of historic structures around State Circle and School Street. Robert Johnson acquired town lot number 73 in 1772, and his grandson built the brick house at 23 State Circle in 1773. Related buildings at 1 and 5 School Street were constructed or substantially developed during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The property later housed commercial and residential uses, including a tailor shop and the Morrow Apartments, before being incorporated into the Historic Inns of Annapolis collection and adapted as a historic hotel. The collection's dining facilities include the Treaty of Paris restaurant and the King of France Tavern. In March 2007, Remington Hotels opened a Starbucks location in space associated with the former King of France Tavern. Remington Hotels manages the inns, which are located in the heart of Annapolis and participate in Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The brand's core positioning is therefore heritage-oriented lodging: historically distinctive accommodations combined with contemporary hospitality services and access to Annapolis's central civic, cultural, and waterfront attractions.

The history of Historic Inns of Annapolis is rooted in the individual buildings that make up the collection rather than in a single documented corporate founding date. The properties are situated in Annapolis's historic core and preserve structures associated with the city's colonial, Revolutionary-era, and nineteenth-century development. The Maryland Inn has the earliest documented lodging history within the collection. Thomas Hyde, a merchant and civic figure, obtained a long-term lease on a lot near Church Circle in 1772 and constructed the front portion of the building. In 1782, the property was described in a sale advertisement as a substantial brick house suitable for use as a house of entertainment. Sarah Ball was managing a tavern there by 1784. The establishment continued to attract travelers throughout the nineteenth century. The Maryland Hotel Company acquired it in 1868, after which it became one of Annapolis's leading hotels and a meeting place for notable state, national, and military visitors. By the period of the First World War, however, the building no longer met contemporary hotel expectations; rooms were converted into offices and apartments. Ownership changed several times before a 1953 restoration aimed to retain the structure's Colonial design while introducing modern conveniences. Governor Calvert House occupies 58 State Circle and incorporates elements of a residence built in the 1720s. Charles Calvert, Maryland's governor from 1720 to 1727, was its earliest identified occupant. A fire in 1764 destroyed much of the original structure. The remaining portions were incorporated into a two-story Georgian-style building that Maryland used as barracks through 1784. The property passed through several owners between 1800 and 1854, when Annapolis mayor Abram Claude acquired it. Claude expanded the building and introduced Victorian details. During a later restoration initiative, owner Paul Pearson worked with Historic Annapolis on archaeological and architectural research. Investigators identified surviving features of the earlier house, including a basement hypocaust heating system, providing important evidence of the site's earlier construction and technology. The Robert Johnson House traces its principal history to Robert Johnson, an Annapolis barber who purchased town lot number 73 in 1772. His grandson built the brick house at 23 State Circle in 1773, and Johnson family heirs retained the main property until approximately 1856. Other structures associated with the lot developed over subsequent decades. Elizabeth Thompson acquired part of the property in 1808 and likely built the frame structure at 1 School Street. A second frame building at 5 School Street was constructed between 1790 and 1792 by Archibald Chisolm, who owned it until 1811. In 1880, William H. Bellis acquired the Johnson house and operated a tailor shop facing Main Street. After his death, his daughter Maud Morrow assembled the adjoining properties and converted them into the Morrow Apartments. The buildings were later acquired by Historic Inns and converted for use as a historic hotel. The three properties were ultimately brought together as Historic Inns of Annapolis, a lodging collection managed by Remington Hotels. The operation also includes the Treaty of Paris restaurant and King of France Tavern as associated dining facilities. In 2007, a Starbucks opened in space connected with the King of France Tavern. The collection is recognized through membership in Historic Hotels of America, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's program for historically significant hotels. Its continuing identity depends on balancing preservation of historic fabric and interpretation of Annapolis's past with the practical requirements of modern accommodation, food service, and visitor hospitality.

• 2007

  Starbucks opens at the Maryland Inn

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  Remington Hotels opened a Starbucks coffee location in March in space associated with the former King of France Tavern.

• 1953

  Maryland Inn restoration

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  The Maryland Inn was restored with the stated aim of retaining its Colonial character while providing modern amenities.

• 1868

  Maryland Hotel Company acquires the Maryland Inn

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  The Maryland Hotel Company purchased the Maryland Inn, which continued as a leading Annapolis hotel.

• 1784

  Maryland Inn tavern operation documented

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  Sarah Ball was managing a tavern at the Maryland Inn site.

• 1782

  Maryland Inn advertised as a house of entertainment

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  The Maryland Inn property was promoted for sale as a substantial brick house suitable for lodging and hospitality.

• 1773

  Robert Johnson House brick building constructed

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Johnson's grandson built the brick house that remains at 23 State Circle.

• 1772

  Foundations of two collection properties established

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Hyde acquired a long-term lease near Church Circle for the Maryland Inn site, while Robert Johnson purchased Annapolis town lot number 73, later associated with Robert Johnson House.

• 1720

  Governor Calvert House site associated with Charles Calvert

  [1]Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org

  The original house at what is now 58 State Circle was built in the 1720s and was occupied by Charles Calvert, Maryland's governor from 1720 to 1727.

A heritage hospitality collection offering lodging in restored historic buildings in central Annapolis, with an emphasis on colonial and early American character, architectural authenticity, and access to the city's historic district.

• Historic hotel

  The Maryland Inn

  The Maryland Inn is the collection's principal historic lodging property near Church Circle. Its building history includes an eighteenth-century house of entertainment, a nineteenth-century hotel era under the Maryland Hotel Company, twentieth-century office and apartment conversions, and a 1953 restoration. It combines period character and a central Annapolis location with contemporary guest accommodation.

• Historic hotel

  Governor Calvert House

  Governor Calvert House is a lodging property incorporating remains and later additions associated with an eighteenth-century residence at State Circle. Its historical interpretation includes the former residence of Charles Calvert, post-fire reconstruction, use as Maryland barracks, Victorian-era expansion, and archaeological research that identified a hypocaust heating system.

• Historic hotel

  Robert Johnson House

  Robert Johnson House is a historic lodging property centered on the 1773 brick house at 23 State Circle and related late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century structures on School Street. The buildings previously served residential and commercial purposes, including a tailor shop and the Morrow Apartments, before being adapted for hotel use.

• Restaurant

  Treaty of Paris

  Treaty of Paris is one of the on-site dining facilities associated with Historic Inns of Annapolis. It supports the collection's full-service hospitality offer alongside the historic lodging properties.

• Tavern and dining venue

  King of France Tavern

  King of France Tavern is an on-site dining venue associated with the inn collection. Space connected with the former tavern later accommodated a Starbucks location opened by Remington Hotels in 2007.

• 2007

  Add Starbucks to former King of France Tavern spaceOther

  Background

  The collection's historic lodging and dining operation included space associated with the King of France Tavern.

  Action taken

  Remington Hotels opened a Starbucks coffee location there in March 2007.

  Aftermath

  The decision added a contemporary branded coffee service within the historic inn complex.

  Source

• 1953

  Restore the Maryland Inn for continued hospitality useStrategy

  Background

  The Maryland Inn had experienced functional decline, with some rooms converted to offices and apartments by the First World War.

  Action taken

  The property was restored in a manner intended to preserve its Colonial design while adding modern amenities.

  Aftermath

  The restoration helped retain the building as a historic hospitality property and contributed to its later role in the Historic Inns of Annapolis collection.

  Source

1. 1Historic Inns of Annapolisen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Historic Hotels of Americahistorichotels.org