Mount Carmel Monastery

Mount Carmel Monastery is a two-story wooden structure with a gable roof located in Port Tobacco. The building features two main sections designed for practical use with simple, unadorned details.

Four Carmelite nuns from Belgium founded the first Catholic convent for women in the United States here in 1790. This founding year marks an important moment in the development of Catholicism in America.

The community here follows the Carmelite order, whose members dedicate themselves to prayer and contemplation. Visitors can enter the chapel and experience the quiet setting that shapes the daily life of the sisters.

The monastery is located north of Port Tobacco on Mount Carmel Road and is easy to find. Visitors can enter the chapel and access outdoor grounds during regular visiting hours.

The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, honoring its role as the first Carmelite monastery in America. This official recognition underscores its importance in the nation's religious history.

Location: Maryland

GPS coordinates: 38.55580,-77.00030

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:40