John Poole House – Poolesville, Maryland - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

John Poole House

Poolesville, Maryland

Dating to 1793, this is the oldest building in Poolesville. 

View all photos
The John Poole House sign. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
38
87
Top Places in Poolesville
Ruins of Seneca Quarry stone cutting mill.
Seneca Quarry
Poolesville, Maryland
Seneca Schoolhouse
Poolesville, Maryland
Planetary Radio Emissions Discovery Site
Poolesville, Maryland
 See All

The John Poole House served as a trading post for local farmers and traveling merchants when it opened in 1793. By 1810, it also functioned as a United States Post Office. The framed portion to the right of the log cabin was added in 1866 and includes an artist studio and the Historic Medley District’s office. Poole was born in 1769 and died in 1828.

The grounds are also home to the E.L. Stock, Jr. Memorial Arboretum. This includes a collection of trees, bushes, and flowers that were indigenous to the area during the mid-19th century. The arboretum is named for Edward L. Stock, Jr., a Cornell graduate who returned to the area to open a nursery. His daughter served as a docent at the John Poole House and curated the arboretum.

The John Poole House also includes a display of Civil War artifacts and a general store that acts as a gift shop. 

Atlas Obscura Experiences

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.
$42 per person
civil war history & culture architecture
Nearby
Warren Historic Site
3.38 miles
Planetary Radio Emissions Discovery Site
5.01 miles
Boyds Negro School
5.42 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Warren Historic Site
Dickerson, Maryland

Warren Historic Site

Once the center of a thriving early Black community called Martinsburg.
Planetary Radio Emissions Discovery Site
Poolesville, Maryland

Planetary Radio Emissions Discovery Site

Using a massive antenna made up of five miles of wire, two scientists tuned into organic radio waves from the planet Jupiter.
Interior of school.
Boyds, Maryland

Boyds Negro School

The only public school for Black children in the region from 1895-1936.
Back side of mill with metal wheel.
Germantown, Maryland

Black Rock Mill

Built in 1815, the stabilized ruins of the grist mill and sawmill are now gated, but interpretive displays on the features and functions of the mill preserve its history.
Related Places
Los Angeles, California

Campo de Cahuenga Memorial Park

Overshadowed by the theme park opposite it, this small museum explores a major moment in American history.
Fleetwood Church
Brandy Station, Virginia

Fleetwood Church

This abandoned church languishing for decades is now one man's passion project and subject of paranormal investigators.
Barn ruins.
Lorton, Virginia

Mount Air Historic Site

This homestead was occupied by Union soldiers, who believed the owners were signaling Confederate forces.
Inside the Wilkes Street Tunnel.
Alexandria, Virginia

Wilkes Street Tunnel

This brick-lined pedestrian walkway was once a railway tunnel used during the Civil War.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web