Hampton Uncovered: A Story of Wealth, Labor, and Resistance
A House of Contradictions: Wealth, Labor, and the Fight to Remember
There’s something about Hampton National Historic Site that lingers with you long after you leave. Maybe it’s the grandeur of the Georgian-style mansion, with its sprawling estate that whispers of old money and power. Or maybe it’s the echoes of labor—both enslaved and free—that built and maintained this place, a truth often drowned out by the gleaming chandeliers and manicured gardens.
Hampton tells the story of one of the largest estates in early America, but the real story isn’t just in the marble hallways—it’s in the hands that laid the bricks, tended the fields, and cooked the meals. And yet, with historic preservation funds being slashed and national sites like this at risk, the question remains: how long will places like Hampton be here to remind us of our past?
Hampton National Historic Site stands as a grand reminder of America's past, but behind its elegant facade lies a history built on labor, both forced and free. How long will we preserve these stories?
A Mansion Built on the Backs of Others
According to Brandon, a park staff member, Hampton is significant because it was once Maryland’s second-largest slave plantation, covering 25,000 acres at its peak. The Ridgely family, who lived in the mansion for 158 years, enslaved as many as 350 people at one time.
For over a century and a half, this estate operated like a self-contained world, with everything from iron furnaces (producing musket barrels for the American Revolution) to its own dairy, blacksmith, and orchard—all built, maintained, and sustained by enslaved people, paid workers, and indentured laborers.
And the Ridgelys kept everything. The house is a time capsule, filled with lavish furniture, imported textiles, and artwork that showcase their immense wealth. But step outside the grand rooms, and you’ll find the preserved slave quarters, where the contrast between privilege and forced labor is stark.
Today, Hampton National Historic Site is a crucial link to understanding the full story of American history, not just the polished version that fits neatly into textbooks. But with the current administration’s attacks on historic preservation funding and the National Park System, sites like Hampton face an uncertain future. When you underfund the places that tell the whole story, you get a history written by those who could afford to keep it.
Two dolls stand in quiet reflection outside the preserved stone quarters at Hampton National Historic Site, where generations of enslaved and laboring individuals once lived and worked.
Surprising Connections to American History
Many visitors arrive expecting to see a beautiful old mansion, but what surprises them, according to Brandon, is just how intertwined Hampton’s story is with larger moments in American history:
During the American Revolution, the Ridgely ironworks produced musket barrels and cannons for the war effort.
The site even hosted President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt, further linking it to the country’s political past.
But what’s changed in recent years is how we understand the lives of the people who built this estate. Through an ethnographic study with Goucher College, researchers worked to connect with descendants of the enslaved people who lived here. These efforts help fill in the missing pieces of history, giving a fuller picture of who these individuals were—not just as statistics, but as real people with names, families, and legacies.
This kind of work is critical in reshaping our understanding of historic sites, and yet it’s the very type of research that’s threatened by the current administration’s efforts to defund and weaken historic preservation programs. Without funding, these stories remain incomplete.
“Hampton gives a glimpse into all levels of society throughout Maryland’s history. Because the Ridgelys lived in the house for so long, they kept everything—so you see their lavish lifestyle, but you also see what life was like for the people who actually worked here.”
Hampton’s grand facade tells one story, but research efforts are uncovering another—one that centers the lives of the enslaved and laborers who built and maintained this estate. As funding for historic preservation comes under threat, will we be able to complete their story?
Through the Lens: Exploring Hampton Today
A visit to Hampton is a layered experience, one where beauty and discomfort coexist. On a rainy day, the estate feels even more frozen in time—the gray sky reflecting off the mansion’s grand exterior, puddles forming along the paths once walked by those who had no choice in being here.
Inside, the rooms are staged to reflect different time periods, from the Regency-era drawing rooms to the modest workspaces of the household staff. The contrast is striking—one world of imported wallpaper and fine china, another of wooden tools and hidden staircases leading to servant quarters.
The slave quarters and kitchen wing offer the most sobering perspectives. The walls here don’t just hold history—they hold the weight of lives lived in forced servitude. And yet, these are the parts of history that often get sanitized, simplified, or ignored entirely in broader conversations about America’s past.
Even today, funding battles threaten to reduce interpretive programs at sites like Hampton, which means fewer resources to tell the full story of these places. And when we lose those stories, we lose pieces of our collective truth.
As the rain began to fall at Hampton, a single drop landed on the doll’s face—like a quiet reminder of the stories held in these walls. The weight of history is felt here, in both the grandeur and the struggle.
Photography Tips: Capturing Your 18” Doll at Hampton
Hampton offers a mix of grandeur and history, making it an ideal backdrop for doll photography. Here’s how to create compelling shots that tell a story:
Capture Depth & Perspective
Example: Dolls walking toward the large tree
Shooting from behind creates a sense of movement and adventure.
Use a low-angle perspective to make the doll’s journey feel immersive.
Background elements, like the sprawling trees, add scale and drama to the shot.
Frame Through Windows & Doorways
Example: Dolls looking out of a historic window
Position your dolls inside a structure, gazing outward to evoke reflection.
The window panes create natural frames, adding layers to your composition.
Try a slight blur on the background to emphasize your doll’s perspective.
Juxtapose the Mansion & Slave Quarters
Example from photo above: Doll near the white cabin, with a rain droplet on her cheek
Contrast is key—placing your doll near different structures (luxury vs. labor spaces) can highlight historical inequality.
Use weather to your advantage—the unexpected rain added a teardrop effect, enhancing the emotional depth of the image.
Use Dramatic Skies for Mood
Example: Doll looking out over the formal gardens
A stormy or cloudy sky makes for a moody, cinematic feel.
Have your doll looking into the distance to emphasize contemplation.
The structured hedges in the garden offer a great visual contrast to organic elements like trees and clouds.
Incorporate Texture & Ground-Level Shots
📸 Example: Dolls standing on the grass near the large trees
Grass, wood, and stone paths make great textured backdrops that ground the shot in realism.
Shooting low to the ground makes the dolls appear more life-sized within the landscape.
The contrast between the modest overseer’s house in the foreground and the grand Hampton mansion in the distance serves as a visual reminder of the stark divide between wealth and labor on this historic estate.
Did You Know?
Hampton was once the largest private home in America. Built in 1790, this estate was considered the biggest private residence in the U.S. at the time—but it wasn’t just a home; it was the center of a massive forced-labor operation.
The Ridgely family’s wealth came from iron—and slavery. The family’s ironworks business supplied musket barrels and cannon parts during the American Revolution, but their economic success depended on enslaved labor and indentured workers who mined, smelted, and transported the materials.
The enslaved community at Hampton left a lasting legacy. The National Park Service has worked with Goucher College and descendants of the enslaved families to uncover stories that had been lost for generations—ensuring these individuals are recognized in Hampton’s history.
Hampton is part of the National Park Service—but for how long? With ongoing threats to preservation funding, sites like Hampton could see staff reductions, fewer public programs, and ultimately, less protection for these important histories.
Why Hampton National Historic Site is Worth a Visit
Even on a rainy, overcast day, Hampton National Historic Site is a powerful place to explore. Whether you’re drawn to its grandeur and architectural beauty or its deeper, more complex history of labor and enslavement, this site offers an unfiltered glimpse into America’s past—one that challenges the typical narratives of wealth and power.
Plus, if you’re a doll collector, the site’s elegant mansion, preserved quarters, and sprawling grounds make for the perfect setting to capture historically inspired photos that tell compelling stories.
This isn’t just a historic house—it’s a window into the contradictions of early America. The preserved spaces, ongoing research into the lives of the enslaved, and the stark contrast between wealth and labor make Hampton a site worth experiencing firsthand.
Plan Your Visit to Hampton National Historic Site
If you’re inspired to take your own dolls on a historical adventure, here’s what you need to know before visiting Hampton National Historic Site:
📍 Location: Hampton NHS is located in Towson, Maryland, just north of Baltimore.
🕰 Hours: The mansion and grounds have varying hours depending on the season. Check the National Park Service website before your visit.
💲 Admission: Free! There’s no entrance fee to explore Hampton.
🍂 Best Time to Visit: Hampton’s gardens and historic grounds change with the seasons—spring and fall bring beautiful foliage, while winter offers a dramatic, moody atmosphere perfect for photography.
🎒 What to Bring:
Comfortable walking shoes, as the grounds include uneven historic pathways.
A camera (or your phone!) to capture the contrast between luxury and labor in your doll photography.
If visiting in rainy weather, bring an umbrella and waterproof layers—Hampton’s covered porches offer great spots for shelter while still getting amazing shots.
📜 Tours & Programs: Hampton offers guided tours, living history events, and educational programs that explore both the Ridgely family’s privilege and the lives of the enslaved people and workers who sustained this estate. Check the park schedule for upcoming events.
From the ornate mansion to the humbler workers’ quarters, Hampton National Historic Site tells a story worth remembering—but with funding cuts threatening historic sites like this, how long will we keep these stories alive?
