The original one-story office and kitchen pavilions, and their connecting hyphens, were altered in the 19th century with the house's conversion to a hotel, by a second story added to the hyphens and the west wing. These changes have since been reversed, and the building approximates its original outward appearance, both inside and out.
History
In 1780, Paca sold the house to Thomas Jenings, the attorney general of Maryland.
Carvel Hall Hotel
The house and grounds were eventually acquired by the Annapolis Hotel Corporation, and the house became the lobby and conference rooms for the Carvel Hall Hotel, which was constructed in the garden immediately to the rear. The hotel opened in 1901 with two-hundred guest rooms. But, by 1964, a mixed-use development was proposed for the site that would have demolished the house and the hotel, putting high rises in its place.
Restoration
After the plans to demolish Carvel Hall became public, the house was acquired by Historic Annapolis, Inc. (later the Historic Annapolis Foundation, or HAF), and the surrounding property (garden) was acquired by the State of Maryland in 1965. The additions were removed in 1966-67 and ownership was transferred to the Maryland Historical Trust.[4] The property is administered by Historic Annapolis Foundation, and is open to the public for guided tours of the house and self-guided garden year round.
Description
The Paca House is a Georgian five-part house. The brick structure comprises a central 2+1⁄2-story block on an elevated basement, flanked by symmetrical 1+1⁄2-story end pavilions, connected to the central structure by 1+1⁄2-story hyphens. The interior is a center hall plan with two rooms on either side of the hall. Original woodwork remains only in the central hall, stair hall and the west parlor, including the stair's original Chinese Chippendale balustrade.[5]
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