One of Baltimore’s most significant landmarks needed more that repairs. It needed an organization devoted entirely to protecting its future.

A descendant of the Johns Hopkins family and a devoted Baltimore civic leader, Samuel understood that saving Clifton would require more than a series of repairs.

It would take a dedicated organization, sustained stewardship, and people willing to remain committed to the work for years to come.

On July 29, 1996, he founded Friends of Clifton Mansion.

By 1996, Clifton Mansion had already stood for nearly two centuries.

It had begun as the country estate of Captain Henry Thompson before Johns Hopkins transformed it into a grand Italianate summer home overlooking Baltimore. Its rooms had welcomed prominent guests, its tower had risen above the city for generations, and it was here that Hopkins considered the philanthropic legacy that would change medicine, education, and Baltimore itself.

But time had not been kind to Clifton.

Its once elaborate interiors had been painted over. Water, weather, changing uses, and decades of wear had taken their toll. Decorative finishes had disappeared beneath layers of paint, and some of the craftsmanship that made Clifton extraordinary was in danger of being lost.

Clifton was still standing, but its future was far from certain.

Samuel Hopkins could see what was at stake. He saw more than a deteriorating building. He saw a Baltimore landmark worth fighting for.

That belief became the beginning of everything that followed. He understood that Clifton Mansion needed a dedicated organization committed solely to its preservation.

Samuel Hopkins, Founder of Friends of Clifton Mansion

From the beginning, Samuel understood that the work would extend beyond his own lifetime. When he formed Friends of Clifton Mansion, he enlisted the support of his four sons, Henry, Fred, Sam, and Robert, bringing them onto the Board and making Clifton’s future a shared family responsibility.

Following Samuel’s death in 2008, his sons continued the mission he had begun. Henry succeeded his father as President in 2009, Fred serves as Secretary, and Sam and Robert remain members of the Board.

What began as one man’s determination to save Clifton became another generation’s promise to restore it.

He saw more than a deteriorating building. He saw a Baltimore landmark worth fighting for.

That belief became the beginning of everything that followed.

Securing Clifton’s Future

Before Clifton’s hidden beauty could be revealed, its future had to be secured.

From its earliest days, Friends of Clifton Mansion worked in partnership with Civic Works to save and rehabilitate the building. Before conservators could uncover historic colors or craftspeople could recreate long-lost details, the Mansion’s most urgent structural and mechanical needs had to be addressed.

Years of deterioration had left Clifton requiring extensive repairs. The roof and exterior needed attention. Aging plumbing and electrical systems had to be replaced. The building needed modern heating and cooling, improved accessibility, and the infrastructure required to remain in active use.

That essential work culminated in a major rehabilitation completed in 2014. With the support of Friends of Clifton Mansion, Civic Works repaired the roof, installed a geothermal heating and cooling system, modernized the plumbing and electrical systems, added an elevator, and restored and repainted the exterior.

It was not yet the highly visible restoration of murals, decorative painting, and historic interiors. It was the difficult, necessary work that made all of that possible.

Clifton Mansion had been stabilized, rehabilitated, and prepared for its next chapter.

The building was secure. Now, Friends of Clifton Mansion could begin uncovering the extraordinary architectural and artistic jewel that had been hidden for far too long.