Franklin House

What Franklin House does

Franklin House is a privately held historic event venue located at 59 Franklin Street in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. The property is a 1908 Colonial Revival structure with original architectural details including heart pine hardwood floors, a curved staircase, cedar window-benches, high ceilings, and dual fireplaces, and it has a documented chain of title dating back to 1740. The venue is owner-operated by Sean Finter, who repositioned the property into a private function and event space during the 2010s after a two-decade program of renovations balanced historic preservation with modern amenity upgrades.

The business rents two distinct event spaces, "The Downie Bar" (2,976 square feet with a 12-seat boardroom, full kitchen, two TV/projector screens, and Sonos sound) and "The Main Level" (2,000 square feet with 75-person standing capacity, two function rooms plus foyer, three TV/projector screens, and Sonos sound), to corporate clients hosting meetings and conferences, government-affiliated organizations, and event planners running private functions. Ancillary technology is limited to integrated Sonos audio and display screens across both spaces; there is no proprietary software or digital platform layer. Revenue is generated on a one-time venue-rental basis, with pricing not publicly disclosed and all bookings handled via direct inquiry through phone or email.

Go-to-market is fully direct and owner-led, with Sean Finter managing sales and business development personally through his hospitality industry network. The venue's competitive position rests on its irreplaceable historic architecture and proximity to Maryland's state government buildings, rather than on technology, scale, or pricing differentiation. The company employs eight people, holds no disclosed outside investors, and has no patents, partnerships, or marketing channels documented in available materials.

Name

Franklin House

Legal name

Franklin House

Website

https://59franklin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Franklin House is a privately held, owner-operated historic event venue in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, renting two Colonial Revival function spaces to corporate clients, government-affiliated organizations, and event planners for meetings and private functions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue Rental

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Government & Municipal Event Venues (THAHAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE)

Keywords

• Historic event venue
• Corporate meeting space
• Private function venue
• Annapolis event venue
• Colonial Revival venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis, Maryland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: The Franklin House generates revenue by renting its multi-purpose historic spaces for corporate meetings, private functions, and events. Spaces include The Downie Bar (2,976 sq ft with full kitchen) and The Main Level (2,000 sq ft with 75-person standing capacity).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Franklin House is a historic 1908 Colonial Revival event venue in downtown Annapolis that rents two distinct spaces—The Downie Bar (2,976 sq ft with full kitchen and 12-seat boardroom) and The Main Level (2,000 sq ft with 75-person standing capacity)—for corporate meetings, private functions, receptions, and events. The venue combines authentic period architectural features with modern amenities such as Sonos sound systems and TV/projector screens, targeting corporate clients, event planners, and government-affiliated organizations.

Product overview

Franklin House is a multi-purpose historic venue offering two distinct event spaces for meetings and functions. The Downie Bar provides an intimate setting with boardroom seating for 12, while The Main Level accommodates larger gatherings with standing capacity for 75. Both spaces feature Sonos sound systems and audiovisual equipment, blending modern amenities with the property's 1908 Colonial Revival architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Downie Bar A 2,976 square foot event space featuring a 12-seat boardroom table, two half-bath restrooms, a full kitchen, and two TV/projector screens. Amenities include a large foyer, front verandah, Sonos sound system, and wheelchair accessibility. Designed for corporate board meetings, intimate gatherings, and functions requiring kitchen facilities.
• The Main Level A 2,000 square foot event space with standing capacity for 75 guests, featuring two function rooms plus a foyer and reception area, two full-bath restrooms, three TV/projector screens, and Sonos sound system. Architectural highlights include exposed brick and original beams. Designed for larger receptions, conferences, and private events (not wheelchair accessible).

Quantifiable outcome

• Two distinct spaces accommodate events ranging from intimate 12-person board meetings to 75-person standing receptions

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• William Paca House & Garden: Historic Annapolis colonial property operated by Historic Annapolis as a museum and rentable event venue. Direct comparable because it offers heritage-architecture private function space in the same downtown Annapolis market, competing for the same corporate, wedding, and government-affiliated event bookings.
• Belmont Manor & Historic Park: Historic Maryland estate venue offering private event and wedding rentals. Comparable because it sells heritage-architecture private function space to corporate and private clients in the broader Maryland market, directly overlapping with Franklin House's weekend private-event segment.
• Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts: Annapolis arts and event venue hosting performances, corporate functions, and private events. Comparable as a downtown Annapolis event rental competing for the same mid-size corporate and community event spend.

Broad incumbents

• The Graduate Annapolis: Boutique hotel in Annapolis with event and meeting facilities. Comparable as a downtown Annapolis venue competing for mid-size corporate and private events, though without a standalone heritage venue positioning.
• Historic Inns of Annapolis: Collection of restored historic buildings in downtown Annapolis offering event and meeting rentals. Comparable due to shared heritage-architecture venue model targeting similar corporate and private event buyers in the same geography.
• Loews Annapolis Hotel: Full-service downtown Annapolis hotel with dedicated meeting and event space. Comparable because it competes for corporate meetings and government-affiliated events in the same downtown market, but offers standardized hotel infrastructure rather than heritage differentiation.

Regional players

• The Tidewater Inn: Historic Eastern Shore Maryland inn with meeting and event facilities. Comparable as a heritage-anchored event venue targeting similar mid-Atlantic corporate and private event buyers, though operating in a different sub-region.

Emerging players

• The Carriage House at the Annapolis Maritime Museum: Waterfront heritage event venue in Annapolis. Comparable as a smaller, narrative-driven event space competing for wedding and private-event bookings in the same local market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corporate-event-business-meeting-retreat-venue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franklin House