Government House is representative of Baltimore's many architectural triumphs. Rich in history, the Mansion and its keepers strive to preserve the aura and romance of a bygone era.
John S. Gilman, a prominent banker in this booming port city in the late 1800's, commissioned the Mansion to be designed by Charles Carson. One of the most notable native sons of Baltimore in his time, Carson also had a hand in designing the Masonic Temple, the Equitable Building, and the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. "No picture, unless carefully colored, and no mere description, can give the reader a notion of its appearance," said the author of an 1888 guide to Baltimore concerning the Victorian Gothic Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.
The Mansion was built at a cost of $40,000, and completed in 1889. Mr. Gilman died before its completion, but his widow lived here for several years. The house was eventually purchased by William and Harriet Painter, and they lived here with their three children. William Painter was an inventor who invented the bottle cap. His Crown Cork & Seal Factory was an overnight success. The Painters were a generous family, as well-loved in the community as they were well-known. After William Painter's death, his widow donated a building and lot to the Children's Hospital in her husband's honor, and there is still a wing at the facility that bears his name. The portrait in the Entrance Hall of Government House is of Harriet Painter, and was donated by her granddaughter during the restoration.
Following the Painter family, the house was owned by a Dr. Futcher, who used the Library as his office. Robert Garrett, grandson of the founder of the B & O Railroad, later purchased the Mansion. Mr. Garrett was an Olympic Athlete and Chairperson of an organization known as the Playground Athletic League, serving the children of Baltimore. The P.A.L. donated the Mansion to the City of Baltimore in 1939, to be used as the Department of Public Recreation. In 1969 the City purchased the two adjoining Federal style townhouses and expanded the office space.
The office relocated in 1983, and then-Mayor William Donald Schaeffer initialized the restoration of Government House, as part of an effort to preserve the rich architectural history of the City. Though hundreds of these gorgeous and unique Victorian Mansions still exist in Baltimore, most of them have been broken up into apartments or offices, their architectural integrity forever compromised.
The meticulous restoration was completed in 1985, restoring the Mansion to its original 19th-century splendor, and The Inn at Government House was opened to the public. It has served as the Official Guesthouse of the City of Baltimore since that time. Many of the antiques displayed throughout the Mansion were manufactured in Baltimore, and the green marble of the fireplace in the Library was quarried in Baltimore as well. The parquet floors, pocket doors, and Grand Staircase are original to the building, as is most of the stained glass throughout the Mansion.
We hope that you will enjoy your visit while residing at The Inn at Government House. When it is not in use for private functions, the First Floor of the Mansion is open for the comfort and appreciation of our house guests.