Bostwick (Bladensburg, Maryland)

Bostwick is a historic house in Bladensburg, Maryland, built in 1746 by Christopher Lowndes. It served as the residence of notable figures including Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of the Navy, and Colonel Thomas H. Barclay, a Tory during the American Revolution. The house features a distinctive 2+1⁄2-story brick structure with a gable roof and a porch, showcasing architectural elements from its time. Notably, it includes a buttress added in 1800 and two dungeons in its basement. Bostwick is the oldest surviving structure in Bladensburg and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Despite suffering damage from an earthquake in 2011, it remains a significant site for those interested in American history and architecture.