Upper Marlboro, Maryland

George Washington "lodged" here August 31, 1774, going to First Continental Congress. On May 4, 1775, on his way to Second Continental Congress where, on Jun 15, 1775, he was elected "General and Commander-in-Cheif of the Army of the United Colonies." His first visit here was as colonel of Virginia militia in 1756 and his last as President of the United States in 1793.

www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=3667

Located in central Prince George’s County, the Town of Upper Marlboro was established when the General Assembly of the Province of Maryland passed the “Act for the Advancement of Trade and Erecting Ports and Towns” in 1706 and 1707 in order to establish
commercial centers in Maryland. The community was first known as the Town of Marlborough, but was soon changed to Upper Marlborough, distinguishing it from (Lower) Marlborough in Calvert County. In the early twentieth century, the name was commonly shortened from Marlborough to Marlboro’ then finally to Upper Marlboro, as it is known today.

By 1718, county residents petitioned to have the county seat moved from Charles Town to Upper Marlboro, which was completed in 1721. Chosen for its location on the Western Branch of the Patuxent River, the area was thought to be a convenient trading location. With its designation as the county seat, Upper Marlboro soon became the social, political, and commercial center of the county. Because of its location near the river, in 1747, Upper Marlboro was designated as an inspection site for tobacco. In order to protect the quality of tobacco being shipped to England, all tobacco grown in Maryland
had to pass through inspections sites at Nottingham, Piscataway, Upper Marlboro, or Bladensburg before it was allowed to be publicly sold. Horse racing was an important sport in eighteenth-century Maryland, and Upper Marlboro soon became a popular destination for those seeking to watch the races.

The first courthouse was constructed in 1721 and was later replaced in 1798. That building was replaced by a large one in 1881, and the present court house is on the site of its 19th century predecessor.

As the Patuxent River and the Western Branch silted they became unnavigable for large ships transporting tobacco. Even without the tobacco industry, the thriving commercial and political center of Upper Marlboro supported the local economy in the nineteenth century. Upper Marlboro provided a number of shops and amenities for its residents and visitors. The town was served by several hotels, law offices, and other stores that included a barber shop, carriage factory, tailor, cabinet maker, tinner, doctor’s office, and the offices of the Planter’s Advocate and the Marlboro Gazette. The most significant development was the addition of the Popes Creek line of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad to the east of town.

During the twentieth century, Upper Marlboro continued to expand. Several fires resulted in the rebuilding of structures, particularly commercial buildings along Main Street, while some older buildings received new facades and renovations. In the early 1940s, the Victorian-era county courthouse was extensively remodeled in the Colonial Revival style. The original building was well disguised by the addition of a large portico, flanking wings, and a bell tower.

Upper Marlboro contains a remarkable collection of buildings from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century that reflect the evolution of Upper Marlboro from a rural village to a thriving small town and county seat. The majority of extant buildings date from the mid- to late nineteenth century. Popular styles found in Upper Marlboro include both high-style and vernacular interpretations of Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and Craftsman styles. Building types include I-houses, L-shaped plans, American Foursquares, bungalows, Cape Cods, and ranch houses. Houses within the town are set back from the street on grassy lots. Concentrated along Main Street, the commercial buildings are typically constructed side-by-side and are set very close to the street.

There are still a few small agricultural outbuildings that remain within the town limits.