Carriage House

Location 6 iconThe carriage house originally stored horse-drawn carriages and related equipment, and it was typically located close to the residence like a present-day garage. Carriage houses were generally smaller than barns, with large doors and few, if any, windows.

When Mt. Pleasant was a working farm, its carriage house was topped with a cupola, distinguishing it from the other
outbuildings. It is both decorative and functional, allowing summer heat to escape the building’s highest point while drawing cooler air in from below. This cupola is original to the building and can be removed if needed. Today, this structure serves as an educational space for Conservancy programs.

How is a carriage different than a wagon? A carriage is a four-wheeled horse-drawn passenger vehicle with leaf springs (elliptical springs in the 19th century) or leather strapping for suspension. A vehicle that is not sprung is a wagon.

The cupola is set at the peak of the roof and allows for ventilation. This airflow was good for the Brown’s horses that were kept in the carriage house.

Your next steps:

Proceed past the carriage house on the pavement, then take a right at the junction where the path turns to gravel.  Walk up the red-brick path up the hill to the farmhouse.

Map to farmhouse
Front of Farmhouse