Ballestone Manor

Ballestone Mansion is a historic home located on Cedar Point between Back and Middle Rivers in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a part of the Rocky Point Park and is owned by Baltimore County. It was built during the late 18th or early 19th century and has been enlarged twice. The original portion was built about 1800. An originally one floor addition had a second floor added to it circa 1870-80. The house currently known as "Ballestone Manor" was erroneously named in the 1970's due to an incorrect title search. Ballestone Manor is actually a half-mile away at Balliston Point, and the ground is in fact "Stansburys Claim" or "Dickinson". The structure is actually the Stansbury House or the Cedar Point Mansion. Built between 1798 and 1813, it is currently a museum and is an excellent example of the Federal architectural style. The Heritage Society of Essex and the Essex/Middle River Bicentennial Committee desired to preserve the house and in 1969 Baltimore County purchased the property for park development. Restoration started in 1974, and by the summer of 1976, it was ready to welcome visitors. Some events coordinated for the manor by the Back River Neck Recreation and Parks Council's board of volunteers include Spring/Summer exhibits, Civil War reenactments, Sunday tours, tea plate luncheons, Halloween activities and a Holly Tour for the holidays. The house also has several displays of Early American Art covering a period of 1780-1880. Small weddings and parties are hosted from time-to-time, and special tours can be arranged by appointment.