Seton Hill

Location

Seton Hill is approximately ten blocks north of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and is near Walter’s Art Gallery, Baltimore Symphony, the University of Maryland and Maryland General Hospital. Seton Hill National Historic District is bordered by Eutaw Street on the East, Franklin Street on the South, Pennsylvania Avenue and Orchard Street on the West, and McCulloh and Monument Streets on the North.

Zip Code: 21201

Description

An area rich in religious, Afro-American and architectural history, Seton Hill was designated, in 1968, as an Historic and Architectural Preservation District of Baltimore City and in 1975, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Seton Hill is architecturally significant as one of Baltimore’s earliest intact rowhouse neighborhoods. This residential area of mixed economics and mixed ethnicities is bordered by small shops and convenience stores. Seton Hill is among the most stable residential communities within the downtown area with some residents living here as long as 20 years. Seton Hill is an ideal choice for downtown living for a wide range of lifestyles.

History

 Historically, the area is linked to the Saint Mary’s Seminary, the first Catholic Seminary in the United States and Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American canonized saint. Located on the Seminary grounds and placed on the National Register of Historical Landmarks are The Chapel of Our Lady of the Preservation, one of America’s oldest and finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture and the Mother Seton House, home of Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Seton Hill is the site of many firsts:

1791 - St. Mary’s Seminary, nation’s first Roman Catholic seminary

1803 - St. Mary’s College, Baltimore’s first college

1805 - St. Mary’s College, first university in Maryland

1808 - Old St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel, first Gothic Revival church in America

1808 - Mother Seton House, first parochial school for girls in the U.S.

1809 - Sisters of Charity, first order of nuns founded in America

1829 - Oblate Sisters of Providence, first African canonically approved society

1975 - Elizabeth Ann Seton, first canonized American-born saint