Porto Bello

Porto Bello is a colonial brick house in Drayden featuring a gambrel roof and one and a half stories. The structure displays Flemish bond masonry, a distinctive building technique used in early colonial Maryland.

Built after 1742, the house stands on a portion of West St. Mary's Manor, one of nine original land grants in Maryland province. Its construction dates to the period when colonial settlers were establishing permanent communities in the region.

The name references the 1739 Battle of Porto Bello and connects this house to British naval history in Panama. The choice reveals how distant historical moments influenced the naming of this Maryland residence.

The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which provides it with formal protection. Visitors should check ahead of time, as this is a private residence and access may be limited.

The masonry displays characteristic techniques from the early colonial period that appear in other historic structures across Maryland. These craftsmanship details help place the structure more precisely within its era of construction.

Location: Maryland

GPS coordinates: 38.17390,-76.45190

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:41