Corn Crib Foundations

Living historians work the field. Notice the stone corn crib foundations behind them.

NPS/Tim Ervin

Quick Facts

Location:

Towson, MD

Significance:

One of the structures important for storage of the agricultural production of the plantation.

Amenities

3 listed

Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Originally built between 1845 and 1860, the wooden corn crib was once a large, one-story, wooden gabled structure used to air dry corn before it was ground into corn meal. This building burned in a fire in 1989. In 1997-1998, the Park Service stabilized and capped the foundation walls to continue to include this structure and its story in the narrative of Hampton Home Farm.

In 1855, corn was the most widely grown crop in the United States and Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia were the "breadbasket" of America. Husking parties were major events in the antebellum South.