Who Lived Here?

The Stiers were an aristocratic family from Antwerp who fled to the United States in 1794 during a period of the French Revolution known as the "Reign of Terror." Read more.

The Plummers were an enslaved family living primarily in Maryland. We have a wealth of information about this family thanks to the diary of Adam Francis Plummer and Nellie Arnold Plummer, as well as her book, Out of the Depths, or the Triumph of the Cross. Read more.

Over the years, Riversdale was home to many notable people and politicians, thanks to its close proximity to Washington, DC. Read more.

The Calverts were the founding family of the Maryland colony and one of the most powerful and well-connected families living in the Maryland area. Read more.

Riversdale was the home to not only the Stier, Calvert, and Plummer families, but also an extensive workforce. This group was made up of enslaved, indentured, and paid men and women. Read more.