Historic London Town and Gardens

Edgewater, Maryland, United States

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Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater, Maryland, is a 23-acre park that combines history, archaeology, and horticulture, centered on the site of a colonial tobacco port town founded in 1683.

Once a bustling hub for tobacco trade and ferry crossings on the Chesapeake, London Town thrived into the 18th century before declining due to changes in trade routes. The only original historic structure remaining is the William Brown House, built around 1760, which later served as the county almshouse until 1965 and is now a National Historic Landmark. The site features reconstructed colonial buildings such as a carpenter’s shop and tenement house, along with 10 acres of landscaped botanical gardens including a woodland garden inspired by the UK's Windsor Great Park.

Extensive archaeological work continues to shed light on the town’s past and its important role in regional commerce and social history. Visitors can explore self-guided tours, exhibitions in the visitor center, and the scenic South River setting, making it a place where natural beauty and rich historical heritage come together. The park also acknowledges its African American history, including London Town’s ties to the slave trade, as part of its educational mission.