Tour of Garrett Jacobs Mansion/Engineers’ Club

Tuesday, February 28
5:30 reception, 6 to 7:30 presentation and tour

Join us to tour the historic Garrett Jacobs Mansion in Mount Vernon Place, once the largest and most expensive home built in Baltimore. We will learn about the history and development of the mansion, and see the reconstruction of the atrium in progress. Speakers include Walter Schamu, FAIA from SMG Architects, Dick Magnani of Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, and representatives of Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

Reconstruction of the atrium marks another milestone in the long-term restoration and modernization of the mansion. The atrium project involves closing in an open courtyard which once housed the mansion’s conservatory, home to birds, palm trees and streams.

Built in 1916, the conservatory was the final piece in the composition of structures built between 1884 and 1916. Over a nine-year period beginning in 1884, Stanford White reworked a Greek Revival style townhouse at 11 West Mount Vernon Place for Robert Garrett, then president of the B&O Railroad, and his wife, the former Mary Sloan Frick of New York. The result was an architectural masterpiece that essentially introduced the Renaissance Revival to the city of Baltimore. The interior of the house is lavished with marble mosaic, stained glass, and carved oak and mahogany woodwork. In later years, Mary Garrett hired John Russell Pope to build an addition to the east that doubled the size of the house. A gallery was added in the back, enclosing the courtyard that then became the glazed conservatory.

Admission is $10 AIA members; $5 students; $25 public. Space is limited so please RSVP with clearly marked payment to AIABaltimore.

Thanks to the Engineer’s Club for their generosity in helping us present this event.