Cylburn Arboretum

Once the estate of wealthy mining tycoon Jesse Tyson, the Cylburn Arboretum is a large, 200-acre city park located in Baltimore's northwest side that features greenhouses, flower and vegetable gardens, trails, and the historic Cylburn Mansion. Since opening to the public in 1957, it has provided opportunities for visitors of all ages to learn about horticulture and the natural world through its many educational programs. The Cylburn Mansion, which was built between 1863 and 1888, is available to rent for weddings and other gatherings. The entire property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as the Cylburn House and Park Historic District.

Jesse Tyson was born to a prosperous family. His father, Isaac, who studied geology, mineralogy, and chemistry in France, had established a successful chromite mining company in the early 1800s after finding serpentine rock on the family's summer property at Bare Hills. Serpentine is sometimes found with chromite ore, which contains chromium, a type of metal used to make glass, glazes, and paint. It was also used in the process to make leather. Isaac acquired mines in other states and eventually monopolized the world's chromite industry. He shipped chromite ore to England to be processed until 1845 when he built the country's first chromium chemical plant called the Baltimore Chrome Works. He also invested in copper mining.

Tyson and his brother, James, took control over the business after Isaac died. James managed the mines and expanded the company's reach to additional states including California and Tyson became president of the Baltimore Chrome Works.

Tyson began building the house in 1863 for himself and his mother, Hannah, and it was finally finished in 1888. Construction was delayed by Hannah's death, the Civil War, and the amount effort required to mine and transport the stone used (the stone was sourced from one of the family mines). Designed by prominent local architect George A. Frederick in the Victorian Renaissance Revival style, notable features of the house include the stone exterior, the wraparound porch with square columns and decorative brackets, and the tower with a bay window, balcony, and a mansard roof. Tyson chose the name "Cylburn" which means wooded stream. The name combines the English word "syl," which means branch or stream (Tyson spelled it as "Cyl"), with the Scottish word "burne" which means stream. Hannah's death in 1866, the Civil War, and the significant amount labor required to excavate and move the stone (the stone was sourced from one of Jesse's mines) to the property delayed the house's completion.

Tyson remained a bachelor until 1888 when he married 19-year-old Edyth Johns. They did not have children and by all accounts lived a happy life at the house for 18 years. Edyth enjoyed managing the grounds and that included pruning and weeding. She and Tyson also supported charities including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Tyson died on November 28, 1906 of pneumonia. He was 80.

Four years later, Edyth met military officer Bruce Cotten, who was stationed at Fort McHenry. They traveled to Europe together and got married in England on August 4, 1910. They were married for 32 years and lived at Cylburn. After Edyth died in 1942 (she was 73), Bruce sold the property to the City of Baltimore, which intended to convert it into a park (Bruce spent the remainder of his life in Baltimore and died in 1954). However, the city first used the house as a home for neglected and abandoned children operated by the Department of Public Welfare. Only white children were allowed in the house until it was integrated in 1954.

A new home for children was built in 1957 and after that the park was finally established. It called the Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center until the name was changed to the current on in 1982.

"Our History." Cylburn Arboretum Friends. Accessed July 22, 2022. https://cylburn.org/about-us/our-history.

Parish, Mrs. Preston. "Cylburn House and Park Historic District." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 04, 1972. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/NR_PDFs/NR-161.pdf.