Ann Arundel Chapter, NSDAR
Crownsville, Maryland
Welcome to the Inn
"Ann Arundel" is the only Maryland DAR Chapter to own an historic building. The Rising Sun Inn is a hip-roof tavern of pre-Revolutionary days located nine miles north of Annapolis on General's Highway, the historic post road known as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. In 1753, Charles Worthington deeded part of a tract of land known as "Howard's First Choice" to Edward Baldwin who bequeathed it to his sons, James and Henry, the latter's portion being known as "Rising Sun." Alternately used as a private residence and as a tavern (the small tap room remains intact - photos below), the historic building has passed through many hands.
Baldwin Jar
The Inn was given to Ann Arundel Chapter NSDAR in 1916 by its previous owner, R. Thomas Williams, to be "maintained as an historical spot and structure or museum." On May 15, 1980, the Anne Arundel County Committee of the Maryland Historical Trust awarded Ann Arundel Chapter the Marjorie Murray Bridgeman Award for historic preservation in recognition of the chapter’s work in restoring and preserving the Rising Sun Inn during a period of 64 years.
In 1985, the Rising Sun Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Members of the chapter serve on the Inn’s Board of Trustees which oversees the preservation of this unique building and the gardens which contain boxwoods estimated to have been planted during the Revolutionary War period.
The Ann Arundel Chapter NSDAR began a restoration process for the Inn which continues today. In addition to the collection of antiques and interesting artifacts, a large dollhouse which is an almost exact replica of the Jonas Green House in Historic Annapolis, is on display. Jonas Green, and later his widow Anne Catharine Green, were the second and third publishers for the Maryland Gazette during the colonial period.
Tap Room
The Rising Sun Inn is located at 1090 General’s Highway, Crownsville, Maryland and is open for tours to the public on the Second Sunday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. In addition, the Inn is available for private tours, teas, small weddings, meetings, and other events. More information can be found on the Inn website at http://www.risingsuninn.org.