Rosalie of Riversdale

ROSALIE STIER CALVERT
(1778-1821)
Topics covered:
War of 1812, plantation life, Star Spangled Banner, 
Maryland history, Washington DC history, Baltimore History, Battle of Bladensburg

In 1794 Henri Stier and his family, including sixteen-year-old Rosalie, fled their home in Antwerp to escape France's advancing army. They only planned to stay in America until it was safe to return home. However, the fighting dragged on, so the Stiers settled into life in a new country and culture. The vivacious Rosalie married George Calvert in 1799. When her father finally did go back to Antwerp, he made the unusual move of leaving his plantation in Bladensburg, "Riversdale Plantation", to his daughter Rosalie -- not her husband, which was the custom. 

Be swept into the action of the War of 1812! Audience members will flesh out the adventure by becoming the British versus the Americans. Re-live the dramatic Battle of Bladensburg ---and find out how close it came to Rosalie’s beloved Riversdale. Which lucky guests will be chosen to portray President and Dolley Madison? Thrill to the stirring creation of the Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, who married Rosalie’s friend Polly. 

Read an interview with Mary Ann Jung by the Maryland Humanities Council, about Rosalie Calvert