The Governor Calvert House

Posted: 12.09.2024 | Updated: 12.09.2024

Any person seeking out the state’s most haunted Maryland destinations should certainly pass by the historic Calvert House. Standing for more than 300 years, this sophisticated inn offers an assortment of refined accommodations and ghostly delights. 

The Governor Calvert House is actually one of three historic inns that punctuate the State Circle in Annapolis, Maryland. Anyone who visits during the right time of year has a decent chance of bumping into a politician or two in the inn’s halls, as many reside here while in session. Those even luckier, though, might chance upon a ghost. 

Amidst this trio of historic structures, an air of spooky reverence lies. What stories do these walls, hundreds of years old, have to tell, and what secrets do they hold within? Read on to absorb the history of this majestic home and discover its stranger aspects. To stretch your legs on a haunted history walk, book a tour with Annapolis Ghosts today.

Is the Governor Calvert House Haunted? 

The Governor Calvert House appears to be quite haunted—and not just because it is near other haunted locations like the Middleton Tavern or James Brice House. Located at 58 State Circle, this handsomely restored inn is within walking distance of many Chesapeake Bay sights. 

Behind its elegant exterior, even more amenities await — along with a few ghosts, of course. The Governor Calvert House is believed to be haunted by many spirits, including former occupants and owners, along with some less-welcome entities. 

The Governor Calvert House: Politicians to Printing

The history of the Calvert House is interesting. Throughout its expansive history, the structure was owned by two colonial governors: Charles Calvert in 1728 and Benedict Calvert in 1748. 

The Calvert home was rebuilt in 1765 after a fire damaged it the year before. It was fashioned to reflect the Georgian style popular at the time. In addition, the front entrance was moved to face the State Circle instead of the bay. 

Over the years, the property has seen numerous operations and businesses within its walls. In 1766, the property was used as a mercantile firm. It functioned as barracks for the State of Maryland In 1784. By 1843, it held the status of a printing office. Then, in the early 1900s, it was divided into apartments. 

In the 1970s, Paul Pearson secured the house, transforming the historic Calvert home (as well as the Maryland Inn and Robert Johnson House) into a stunning boutique hotel.

From 1982 to 1984, the University of Maryland, along with the Historic Annapolis Foundation, carried out archaeological research on the property, excavating thousands of artifacts. 

Soon after, the Historic Inns of Annapolis added a four-story addition, completing the project in 1985. Presently, this home still draws renowned guests. Several state legislators stay at the Governor Calvert House every year while they assemble at the Maryland State House, located a short walk across the street.

Voyeuristic Ghosts and Odd Apparitions

Various strange occurrences have been reported in the Calvert house over the years, including unusual sounds coming from the locked attic. Who or what might be behind these noises remains unknown. 

Another focal point of strange activity rests in the sitting room, where a particularly unique floor has been laid. Through this clear glass floor, viewers can peer into the original structure of the house. Visitors who gaze into it too long have spied peculiar faces within the glass. Does this surface reveal the lost souls who occupy this space, or might they somehow be trapped inside?

A spirit called Dominic also inhabits the historic venue, having been witnessed in multiple bedrooms. Reportedly, this male presence likes to watch guests undress in an unnerving act of undead voyeurism.

According to a medium’s communication, Dominic is aware of this death but lingers nonetheless. Other spirits dwell here as well, although they go unnamed.

Patrons of this historic inn have spotted a man in period-era fashion or 18th-century dress, thought perhaps to be a former occupant from a previous century. Others have seen a woman from the 1940s, rumored to have died by suicide, wandering the hallways. These shadowy figures lend the hotel an air of mystery as their identities remain unconfirmed. 

Guests have also reported TVs in the hotel rooms turning on and off during the night. In the morning, the hotel clerk confirmed this to be a regular occurrence.

Might this be the female entity attempting to alert others of her lingering presence? Or perhaps the one responsible is the period-era gentleman displaying his distaste for modern technology. 

Historical Curiosities: The Orangery and the Hypocaust

The Calvert family held a powerful position as the proprietors of the colony of Maryland. Maryland, the first successful English proprietary colony in America, was once the personal property of the Lords Baltimore, all members of the Calvert clan. 

As such, their house likely held many features reaffirming their elite status. Uncovered by the recent excavation of the Calvert House in the 1980s was an uncommon set of brick channels connecting to a fireplace.  

This architectural feature was discovered to be a hypocaust, an archaic form of heating. Why might this exotic feature be found in an early 18th-century colonial residence? It is theorized that Charles Calvert likely had an orangery. 

These opulent greenhouses were once considered a showcase for noblemen in Europe. Inside, various semi-tropical plants and flowers were often grown, as well as citrus fruits. 

Charles Calvert likely included this feature in his designs as a display of power and wealth. He was presumably the only man in a considerable distance to boast such an opulent addition. Archeologists surmised the remarkable greenhouse to have been destroyed by the 1770s. When and why remains a mystery.

Charles Calvert died in 1734, suffering from early senility. Might his ghost have returned home after his passing? Perchance in search of his former orangery and its ornate trappings?

Haunted Annapolis

When scouting for historic Annapolis hotels, consider the Governor Calvert House a premier venue. Standing as the heart of the Historic Inns of Annapolis, its 51 rooms offer exquisite comfort effortlessly blended with historic charm. Even spookier, just a minute’s walk from the Calvert House, sits another haunted location: the Maryland Inn. This property holds many ghost stories, including the spirits of a doomed Navy Captain and his bride. 

For more intriguing tales of historical ghosts and eerie haunts, visit our blog and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. Bold enough to set foot on Crabtown’s streets and hear more otherworldly tales? Book one of our Annapolis ghost tours with Annapolis Ghosts today!

Sources:

https://www.visitannapolis.org/blog/stories/post/the-concierge-desk-historic-inns-of-annapolis

https://www.visitannapolis.org/listing/historic-inns-of-annapolis/40

https://www.historicinnsofannapolis.com/history

https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/historic-inns-of-annapolis/history.php

https://spectralseekers.com/single-post/519

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/stays/maryland/glass-bottomed-hotel-md

Governor Calvert House

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=138762

http://www.aia.umd.edu/calvert.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160842002/charles-calvert

https://www.historicinnsofannapolis.com/stay/governor-calvert-house

https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/historic-inns-of-annapolis/ghost-stories.php