Elkridge: History and Rockburn Branch Park

Elkridge offers a variety of ways to spend your stay: historic buildings, a museum experience, park trails, and a striking railroad viaduct. Its attractions range from the architecture of Lawyers Hill and the history of the iron industry to trails and disc golf at Rockburn Branch Park.

Historic Sites and Their History

Belmont Manor and Historic Park is not open to the public except during scheduled rentals and special events. Tours as part of rentals and other event-related visits are offered on selected days and at selected times, and require an appointment. If you plan to take a tour, check the schedule in advance.

Belmont Manor was built in 1738 as a private mansion for Caleb and Priscilla Dorsey of Elkridge. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Lawyers Hill Historic District in Elkridge. Lawyers Hill became the state’s first railroad commuter suburb in the 1840s. The district’s architectural range spans from Georgian Colonial, dating to 1738, to Georgian Revival, dating to 1941. Its diverse collection of Victorian architecture also contributes to the district’s significance.

The Brumbaugh House offers a free museum experience, with educational exhibits and interpretive signs about Elkridge’s history. The Elkridge Furnace Complex offers a different historical focus. It includes six surviving buildings of an ironworks that operated from the 18th century through the 1860s. The complex is significant for its connection to Maryland’s iron industry in the 19th century.

Park Trails and Notable Structures

Rockburn Branch Park in Elkridge has nine miles of trails and paths. The western section of the park is home to an 18-hole disc golf course and the Pfeiffer Corner Schoolhouse. The information distinguishes between the park’s trail mileage and the two attractions in its western section. This gives visitors different ways to enjoy the park: trails, disc golf, and a schoolhouse.

The Thomas Viaduct is another structure with clearly stated features: it is 612 feet long, consists of eight semicircular arches, and rises 59 feet above the Patapsco River. The arches define the viaduct’s structure, while its length and height help convey its scale. It is visible from the Avalon entrance to Patapsco Valley State Park. Route 1 provides the main entrance to the park’s Avalon area.

Find Hotels Based on Your Travel Interests

When searching for hotels in Elkridge, you can start by choosing what interests you most: are you mainly interested in architecture and local history, or in trails and disc golf? This comparison can help you plan your trip around a particular theme. Then check the details of each hotel offer to find one that suits your needs.

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