Historic Oakland

When Jim Rouse was planning Columbia he took special pains to preserve some of Columbia's historic buildings such as Dorsey Manor, the stone house at Wilde Lake, the Barn at Oakland Mills, Oliver's Carriage House... and Oakland, one of the oldest buildings in Howard County. Rouse wanted to make sure that the people of Columbia understood that the city had roots that must be cherished and protected. To that end, the Columbia Association undertook the renovation of Oakland, also known as Oakland Manor, in 1986. Through the careful guidance of Michael Trostel, a fellow of the American Institute of Architecture, Oakland's beauty has emerged. Today Oakland is managed by the Town Center Community Association.

The area surrounding Oakland was originally surveyed by the Honourable John Dorsey in 1688. Before Howard County was formed, the 1100 acre tract of land known as Felicity was part of Upper Anne Arundel County. Two houses stood on the property, one of log and stone, and the other of log.