History of Cross Keys
The Cross Keys Valve House is located in our community. Construction began in 1858 and was completed in 1862. The Valve House received a landmark designation in 2013 by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation
Cross Keys was the first planned community conceived and created by James Rouse and a precursor to Columbia. This urban development was influenced by the garden cities of Europe and also by Edward H. Bouton's Roland Park. Rouse sought to commingle different architectural styles including a high rise, garden apartments, mid- size elevator buildings and townhomes. There are 10 different condo associations within the Village which sits on 78 acres of the former Baltimore Country Club golf course. The Village was conceived and built in the 60’s and 70’s, with the final phase of homes built in the 90’s
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The original Cross Keys was named after an 18th-century inn that stood on Falls Road, then the Falls Turnpike Road, near Coldspring Lane. The inn provided overnight accommodations and a tavern.
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The Village of Cross Keys now boasts 10 different condo associations, a hotel, a shopping center, 3 swimming pools, tennis and pickle ball courts and office space. There is a pre-school, a music school and a veterinarian. It is located between Coldspring Lane and Northern Parkway, west of Falls Road, with easy access to 1-83, Roland Park, Mount Washington and Bare Hills.