A 255-year-old Georgian mansion made an extraordinary 50-mile journey across the Chesapeake Bay after a Maryland family decided to move the entire 400-ton structure by barge. Homeowner Christian Neeley spent nearly $1 million to move the historic 4,000-square-foot brick home, known as Galloway House, from Easton, Maryland, to a new waterfront property in Queenstown, according to reporting by Inside Edition. The house was built between 1760 and 1764 and was moved in 2019.
The move was meant to save the historic house from possible demolition and new development. The unusual move required months of planning, special equipment and careful timing. The house first traveled by road before being loaded onto a barge for the two-day trip across the Chesapeake Bay.
After reaching the new waterfront property in Queenstown, the crew faced another difficult task, getting the 400-ton house off the barge and onto land. The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage later reported that the Neeley family restored the original double-pile portion of the house and built two new wings to replace an 1840s kitchen addition that could not be saved.
The house was intended to be carefully restored while preserving its historic character, according to reporting about the move. The house was moved from the barge onto its new property, where it could be placed on a new foundation. The Neeley family planned to restore the historic structure and make it a permanent family home. The Neeley family also planned additions to the building for the new property. The house remains at its new site along the Wye River. By combining historic preservation with specialized moving and marine equipment, the project gave Galloway House a new home while allowing the 1760s structure to survive for future generations.
The history behind Galloway House
The barge carried the house about 50 miles through the Chesapeake Bay to Queenstown. Because of the house’s size, the land route required road closures and careful planning. The goal was to preserve the historic building instead of allowing it to be lost to development.
The house first had to travel about six miles by road to Easton Point before it could be loaded onto a barge, according to Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Christian Neeley and his family bought the house and planned to move it to a new home along the Wye River in Queenstown. Moving such a large brick house created major challenges. Water transport then became the main part of the journey.