The Custom House is an 18th-century riverfront landmark in Chestertown, Maryland, that now serves as the headquarters for Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
Built in 1746 on the banks of the Chester River, the three-story brick structure originally served as a residence, store, and warehouse for wealthy merchant Thomas Ringgold. Prior to the American Revolution, British customs officials operated out of an adjacent office to inspect and record cargoes arriving from overseas trade routes. Today, as part of Chestertown’s National Historic District, the building functions as an academic center and public history lab where students and scholars study early American history—including grappling with the property's complex legacy as a hub for both Revolutionary political activity and the transatlantic slave trade.
