In 2019, a Maryland family moved a 255-year-old mansion 50 miles by barge; the 4,000-square-foot house travelled across Chesapeake Bay so they could give the historic building a new waterfront home

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. The move was meant to save the historic house from possible demolition and new development. According to reporting by Inside Edition, 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. The house was built between 1760 and 1764 and was moved in 2019. 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.

The history behind Galloway House

Galloway House was built between 1760 and 1764 near Easton, Maryland. It was built for newlyweds William Nicols and Henrietta Maria Chamberlaine Nicols on their 600-acre plantation in Talbot County. The house is an example of Georgian architecture from the period before the American Revolution. Over the years, the house survived more than two centuries of American history. It was later left empty, and its owners said it faced neglect and the spread of suburban development. Christian Neeley and his family bought the house and planned to move it to a new home along the Wye River in Queenstown. The goal was to preserve the historic building instead of allowing it to be lost to development. Moving such a large brick house created major challenges. According to Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the house first had to travel about six miles by road to Easton Point before it could be loaded onto a barge. The land route required road closures and careful planning because of the house’s size. Water transport then became the main part of the journey. The barge carried the house about 50 miles through the Chesapeake Bay to Queenstown.

Preparing a 400-ton house for open water

Before the house could be moved, crews had to support the structure and prepare it for the journey. The house was lifted and placed on a large flatbed truck for the first part of the move. Expert House Movers handled the road portion of the project. The company moved the house in four stages over four nights, beginning September 9, 2019. The slow-moving truck traveled through local roads and across Route 50 and Route 322. The house eventually reached Easton Point, where workers prepared to move it onto a large barge. The loading process faced a problem when the barge developed ballast issues and began to tip. A larger boat was needed to help with the operation. Workers built temporary ramps from flat pieces of wood and lumber so the house could move from land onto the barge. The loading process took about eight hours and required careful maneuvering.

Navigating the Chesapeake Bay

The water journey began after tugboats pulled the barge carrying Galloway House into the Chesapeake Bay. According to Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the barge traveled down the Tred Avon River before heading around Tilghman Island and through Eastern Bay toward the Wye River. The full water route was about 50 miles. The sight of a 400-ton, two-story brick mansion traveling on a barge attracted attention from people around Maryland. Local residents and boaters watched the unusual trip from shore and from the water. The crew also had to watch for navigation hazards, including shallow areas and sandbars. A TowBoat U.S. vessel stood by to provide local knowledge to the tugboat captain during the journey. The house left Easton Point on September 25, 2019. It then continued toward its new location in Queenstown.

Offloading and permanent restoration

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 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. According to reporting about the move, the house was intended to be carefully restored while preserving its historic character. The Neeley family also planned additions to the building for the new property. 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 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.