Fodor's Expert Review Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Set in a lovely rural setting and built in the 1770s, this site marks the Charles County home of Thomas Stone, one of four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. It has been painstakingly rebuilt after a devastating fire left it a shell in the late 1970s. The restoration re-created the distinctive five-part Georgian house inside and out. The two-story main plantation house is linked to the two wings and adjoining hallways in an arc rather than a straight line. All the rooms have exquisite details, such as built-in cabinets, elaborate moldings, a table set in fine china, gilded mirrors, and a harpsichord. The house and family grave site are just a short stroll from the parking lot and visitor center, where you can examine a model of the house or watch a video about Stone. This is one of the least-visited National Park Service sites.