Photo: Home on Franklintown Road. The District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Photographed by wikipedia username:Smallbones, 2013, (own work) [public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, accessed August, 2025.
Photo: Home on Franklintown Road. The District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Photographed by wikipedia username:Smallbones, 2013, (own work) [public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, accessed August, 2025.
The Franklintown Historic District [†] is located in the western portion of the City. It represents a unique and early example of planned suburban/resort development, conceived in 1832 by William H. Freeman, a local entrepreneur and politician.
Key Features
Freeman's Oval: The central design of the village is a distinctive oval park surrounded by wedge-shaped residential lots and mature oak trees, reflecting Picturesque landscape ideals.
Franklintown Mill & Dead Run: A historic grist mill powered by Dead Run stream, alongside associated stone buildings like the mill warehouse and miller residences, contribute to the district’s early industrial significance.
Franklintown Inn (Franklin Hotel): A large 3-story stuccoed hotel that served as a social hub and "summer resort" for Baltimore society.
Millrace Tavern: A historic commercial building that still reflects its use as a tavern.
Residential Architecture: Mostly modest, vernacular homes including I-house forms and early 20th-century bungalows, dating from ca. 1830–1950.
Streetscapes: Curvilinear roads and wooded surroundings preserve the rural character, despite the district’s urban location.
Historical Context
The district reflects early suburban and resort planning trends, incorporating elements from the Picturesque Movement. Freeman’s design was ahead of its time, using an oval layout rather than the more typical circles or grids. The village was also a social and leisure destination due to its proximity to the Central Racecourse, supported by the Maryland Jockey Club.
Significance
The district is notable for its architectural and planning importance. It embodies distinctive characteristics of 19th-century rural planning and retains its original layout, buildings, materials, and natural setting.
Period of Significance
1826–1934, beginning with the construction of the Franklin Hotel and ending with the closure of the mill.
Contributing Resources
Notable addresses include 5100–5201 N. Franklintown Road, 1707–1809 N. Forest Park Avenue, 5110 Fredwall Avenue, and the areas known as Washington Park and Dead Run. There are 24 contributing and 5 noncontributing resources within the district.
†Adapted from: Judith H. Robinson and Stephanie S. Foell, architectural historians, Franklintown Historic District, nomination document, 2001, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C., accessed August, 2025.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
Forest Park Avenue North • Franklintown Road North • Fredwall Avenue • Hamilton Avenue • Hill Street