A Piece Of History Returns: Historic Rich Hill Reopening In Bel Alton

BEL ALTON, Md. — One of Charles County’s oldest and most historically significant homes is preparing to welcome visitors once again.

Historic Rich Hill, located at 9135 Bel Alton Newtown Road in Bel Alton, has completed interior restoration work and is preparing to reopen to the public following years of preservation and interpretation efforts.

Beginning the first weekend in April, the site will open for tours Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with the last tour starting at 3:30 p.m. Admission to visit the historic property will be free, though donations will be accepted to support ongoing preservation efforts.

Guides will be available to answer questions about the home’s history, architecture and the rehabilitation process.

The reopening marks an important milestone for the Historical Society of Charles County and the Friends of Rich Hill, who have worked for years to restore and interpret the nearly 300-year-old site.

Founded in 1961, the Historical Society of Charles County works to preserve, research and share the county’s heritage through historic sites, programs and partnerships, including tours at the 18th-century Friendship House at the College of Southern Maryland. That mission continues at Rich Hill as the restored landmark prepares to welcome the public.

Several special events are already planned for 2026 to celebrate the historic landmark’s return.

The Grand Opening Ceremony of Historic Rich Hill is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 1 p.m. Additional programs include “A 250th Celebration: Living History at Historic Rich Hill” on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and “Say Their Names: Remembering the Enslaved African Americans at Historic Rich Hill” on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 1 p.m.

Connections To America’s Founding

Rich Hill holds deep ties to the founding of the United States.

The property was the birthplace and childhood home of Margaret Brown and her brother Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown.

Margaret Brown later married Thomas Stone, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Her brother, Dr. Gustavus Brown, went on to become one of President George Washington’s physicians and helped care for Washington during the final days of his life.

These connections place Rich Hill among historic sites tied to the nation’s founding era.

A Stop During The Escape Of Lincoln’s Assassin

The property also played a role in the events that followed the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

On April 16, 1865, John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice David Herold arrived at Rich Hill while fleeing authorities after leaving the nearby home of Dr. Samuel Mudd.

The men sought food and shelter at the property owned by Samuel Cox. Cox later asked his foster brother, Thomas Jones, to hide the fugitives in a nearby pine thicket, where they remained concealed for several days while Union troops searched the region during the manhunt for Lincoln’s assassin.

Honoring The Lives Of The Enslaved At Rich Hill

Rich Hill’s story also includes the lives of the many enslaved people who lived and worked on the property.

Historical records show that more than 100 enslaved men, women and children lived at Rich Hill from the early 1700s until the end of slavery in Maryland in 1864.

They worked in tobacco fields, inside the home and in other roles that supported daily life on the plantation.

Exhibits at the site aim to bring greater attention to their stories, including the life of Mary Swann, whose experience reflects the transition from slavery to freedom.

Interpretive panels also include narratives from formerly enslaved individuals recorded through the Federal Writers’ Project between 1936 and 1938, a New Deal program that documented firsthand accounts of slavery. The interviews are preserved by the Library of Congress.

Supporting The Preservation Of Rich Hill

Community members interested in supporting the preservation of Rich Hill can contribute through donations, memberships and sponsorship opportunities.

One initiative connected to the site is the Ghost Structure at Rich Hill, a project designed to interpret the historic landscape while honoring the lives and legacy of the enslaved men, women and children who lived and labored on the property.

Residents can also become members of the Friends of Rich Hill, with contributions helping support preservation work, historical interpretation and educational programs at the site.

To learn more about the history of Rich Hill, upcoming events or ways to support the project, visit richhillfriends.org.

To see photos from the earlier restoration work — including walls opened during construction and a behind-the-scenes tour with the Historical Society’s president and vice president — read our previous: Charles County Funds Rich Hill Accessibility Project To Boost Tourism.

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