Location
1217 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Last Updated: October 30, 2014
One of a few–and possibly the only fully intact late-nineteenth-century urban mansions designed almost exclusively by acclaimed by New York architect, Standford White of McKim, Mead & White, the Ross Winans House at 1217 St. Paul Street is the epitome of cosmopolitan living in Baltimore. Commissioned by Baltimore millionaire Ross R. Winans, heir to a fortune made by his father in St. Petersburg, Russia, the 46-room, brick and brownstone French Renaissance revival style mansion was built in 1882. The house features fine oak paneling, parquet, leaded glass, Tiffany designed tile and other fine materials throughout.
![rosswinansmansion-mdhs](https://baltimoreheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/rosswinansmansion-mdhs-e1351626229709-300x241.jpg)
The Winans Mansion has remained a dominant architectural symbol of the neighborhood and has been used as a preparatory school for girls, a funeral parlor, and a doctors’ offices. Baltimore Heritage identified the building as a threatened landmark in 2000, after it sat unoccupied for many years. Shortly thereafter, Agora Inc. took control of the building and in 2005 completed a multi-million dollar historic renovation that gained distinction by winning a Baltimore Heritage preservation honor award that year. Agora continues to own the building and uses it as offices.
Ross Winans Mansion – News
- “The history of a former ‘mystery’ Mansion,” September 19, 1996, Edward Gunts, The Baltimore Sun
- “1882 Winans mansion may be restored,” February 25, 2002, Edward Gunts, The Baltimore Sun
- “School’s out for Winans conversion: Publishing firm decides to keep mansion rather than sell it to UB,” May 17, 2004, Edward Gunts, The Baltimore Sun