The Rossborough Inn, Federal architectural inn at University of Maryland, US
The Rossborough Inn is a federal-style building near Baltimore Avenue in College Park with red brick walls and white trim details. Its symmetrical wings were added in 1938, giving the structure its current appearance.
Built in 1803 by John Ross, it initially served travelers passing between Baltimore and Washington DC before joining Maryland Agricultural College in 1858. From that point forward it became part of the university campus.
Carved details including a head of Silenus above the front door reflect early 19th-century Maryland building styles and the tastes of that era. These ornaments show what kind of decoration was valued when the place functioned as an inn.
Today the Office of Undergraduate Admissions operates from this building, making it a central point when prospective students visit the campus. The interior functions as office space and is only open during official hours.
During the Civil War, Confederate General Bradley T. Johnson established his headquarters here in 1864 when the university fell temporarily under Southern control. This episode marks it as a spot where military history and wartime disruption of campus life intersected.
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