Crimea Mansion

History: Federal forces seized the railroad depot and town of Relay, southwest of Baltimore on May 11, 1861 to guard their rail connection to Washington, D.C. The seizure of Relay yielded a surprise triumph in the capture of the "Winans Artillery Gun," a rapid-fire steam-powered cannon invented by Ross Winans. Winans had intended to have Confederate forces move the gun to Harpers Ferry. A wealthy railroad pioneer who was well known for sympathizing with the Confederacy, Winans often visited his son Thomas D. Winans here at Crimea Mansion. Union Gen. Benjamin F. Butler ordered Ross Winans to be arrested on May 13th, but when a search of the mansion and grounds failed to locate him, the soldiers camped on the property in the event he should return. He arrived by train at Relay the following day, and became the first civilian arrested in Maryland during the Civil War.

More to Explore: Gwynns Falls Trail, also known as Leakin Park, is a 15-mile urban greenway park that surrounds the Crimea mansion that is great for hiking, biking, picnicking, and bird watching. Within the park is the Carrie Murray Nature Center, which provides nature programs and activities, as well as the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center. If visiting during the Spring, you may want to attend the annual Baltimore Herb Festival. During the summer, a series of outdoor concerts are performed in front of the mansion.

Photo Credits:

1. “Winan’s Steam Gun.”
2. “Orianda Mansion.”
3. “Ross Winans.”
4. “Maj. Benjamin Watson, who was ordered to arrest Winans.”