"Leonardtown" Leonardtown by grandmaR

Leonardtown Travel Guide: 49 reviews and 259 photos

Mural showing Leonardtown in 1865 - Leonardtown

Old time Leonardtown

Mural of Leonardtown in the old days. This is a picture the April 26, 1865 arrest of Congressman Benjamin Harris by Union officers on the porch of the Fenwick Hotel for opposing the Civil War. Cong. Harris lived just outside of Leonardtown at Ellensborough and is buried there. Ellensborough is still there and friends of ours live there.

Leonard Calvert and his settlers arrived in St. Mary's County in 1634. In 1654, some business of the county was transacted in the area known as Newton which is the present Leonardtown area. In 1708 the town was named Seymour Town or Seymourville for John Seymour, the Royal Governor. The name was changed in 1733 to Leonardtown to honor Benedict Leonard Calvert the first Governor of Maryland. The first post office there was opened in 1792.

Leonardtown 2004

Sepiaized photo of Leonardtown 2004

In 1858, Leonardtown incorporated and is still the only incorporated municipality in the county. Today, Leonardtown (which has a population of 1,800+) is governed by an elected Mayor and five member Town Council, all of whom serve for two year terms.

In the mural above, the left side of the painting presents an older time period, around the turn of the century. As you move to the right, the chronology advances to a point in the mid-1950s. McCrory's from the 50s is on the right edge next to the Fenwick Hotel, and the building that was McCrory's is still there. The Fenwick is still there, although it isn't a hotel anymore.

Not in the mural is the center square with the memorial (In the mural, you can see right down to the waterfront). The old movie theatre next to the Fenwick Hotel (now a restaurant) is also NOT in the mural. The sepia photo is more or less the same view as the mural taken in 2004.

Progress overtakes a small town

Bank of America Branch

This is the building which used to be the Maryland National Bank. Their slogan used to be "Where other banks have their branches is where we have our roots". Obviously it has now become a branch. I think the building next to it with the blue awning was the telephone company.

There are many historic buildings in Leonardtown including Tudor Hall (formerly used as the headquarters of the St. Mary's County library system), Camalier mansion (which is now a law office), and the old jail which is now a museum.

The National Register for Historic Properties lists four buildings in Leonardtown.

1 Abell house 22530 Washington St., MD 326 Leonardtown 2003-12-22

2 Buena Vista MD 5, W of jct. of MD 245 and MD 379 Leonardtown 1998-08-19

3 St. Andrew's Church 5 mi. E of Leonardtown on St. Andrew's Church Rd. Leonardtown 1973-03-14

4 Tudor Hall Tudor Hall Rd. Leonardtown 1973-04-26

I have pictures of Tudor Hall, Camalier House and the Old Jail on this page, and pictures of St. Andrew's Church under St. Andrews Estates, but I'll have to look up Abell House, and Buena Vista and get a photo of Ellensborough.

Pros and Cons

Pros:small town
Cons:small town
In a nutshell:My home

Intro Updated Sep 9, 2005
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Reviews (42)

Chef's Night Restaurants (17)

On Thursday evenings, the winery holds a wine tasting event in conjunction with food prepared by a local chef. On First... more travel advice

Front porch of the Front Porch - Leonardtown

A Place to Dine and Unwind Restaurants (17)

On our usual Friday night out dinner, I suggested that we try the place that had replaced Corbels in the restored house... more travel advice

Less Relaxing Hotels (2)

This is the hotel that replaced the old Relax Inn. It is right in the center of town, within easy walking distance of... more travel advice

Leonardtown's new Wharf sign - Leonardtown

Dock and Kayak Rental Sports & Outdoors (2)

Leonardtown held its first Waterfront Celebration on Sept. 13, at the new Wharf complex. IN the past there was a bar... more travel advice

Shopping (2)
See All Owned by Local Artists
Warnings Or Dangers (1)
Hurricanes
Favorites (4)
See All Nook and Monks: Closed
Local Customs (3)
See All Stuffed Ham

Off The Beaten Path (8)
See All "Tin" Roofed Church
Things to Do (2)
See All Autumn Colors 2004
Transportation (1)
Van Go
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Comments (26)

icunme Nov 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM Report Abuse

Oyster fest & ham hocks/greens - that's for me - maybe on separate days! Great hometown. Will be surfing all your pages now! Ciao from Nonna in Roma
hunterV Aug 16, 2008 at 6:36 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Rosalie! Wonderful place in your description, makes me want to go there...
kenHuocj Jan 26, 2008 at 10:08 AM Report Abuse

fascinated and drooling to be part of the Oyster festival ;-)))
littlesam1 Oct 9, 2007 at 8:15 AM Report Abuse

I was just through your hometown over the weekend. I drove down to St. Marys City for a day trip on Sunday and drove through Leonardtown. I've never had stuffed ham before but it sounds wonderful. I should have dropped by for dinner..lol.
Rhondaj Mar 22, 2007 at 11:20 AM Report Abuse

hmm...our county fair is in august. i like the september idea with a day off from school to go...
Pawtuxet Apr 28, 2006 at 7:00 AM Report Abuse

You have a wonderful old home. Good to see folks preserving our history. Guess you'd like my village.
Minstrelette Nov 20, 2005 at 11:58 AM Report Abuse

I remember an English Tea room somewhere in Leonardtown. Is that still there?
raindancer9562 Sep 28, 2005 at 6:10 PM Report Abuse

Hi This is Lisa Bellamy I am a contender for the oyster shucking contest in Leonard town every year.Hope to meet you there this year . Your page is really neat .I have really enjoyed coming here every year every one is so friendly and nice
penumbra Sep 13, 2005 at 10:09 PM Report Abuse

Lovely architecture. How civilized to build a two storey county jail and give the inmates the upper floor.
catalysta Jun 13, 2005 at 5:58 PM Report Abuse

Enjoyed visiting Leonardtown via your page, will have to drive over sometime! I'm a MD girl too, mom in Annapolis, sister in New Mkt, her kids in Baltimore, so I'm there often...cat