Seton Hill

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.

Seton Hill attractions include:

  • Mother Seton House - once home to America’s first native-born Saint
  • Old Saint Mary’s Chapel - dramatic example of Neo-Gothic architecture
  • Orchard Street Church - one of the oldest black churches, beautifully restored
  • St. Mary’s Park - site of the first seminary in the U.S. and Baltimore’s first university; it now provides acres of natural serenity tucked into a bustling downtown landscape.

Seton Hill is served by numerous MTA bus lines, the Light Rail, and the Metro Subway and is within close proximity to Walter’s Art Gallery, Washington Monument, Enoch Pratt Main Library, Lexington Market, Trinacria’s Italian Market, Arena Players, Baltimore Symphony, University of Maryland and University of Baltimore.

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