Tyler Spite House

Dr. John Tyler (1763-1841) was a prominent Frederick physician credited with performing the first cataract surgery by an American-born doctor. In 1813 he learned the City of Frederick intended to extend Record Street south through a parcel he owned near the courthouse square, connecting Record Street to West Patrick Street behind his home. Tyler responded by purchasing the neighboring property from Joseph Flemming and quickly began construction on a 2.5-story brick building before the Maryland Legislature could finalize the act authorizing the new street. Because Maryland statute at the time prohibited the seizure or demolition of an occupied dwelling for a street extension, Tyler's overnight construction effectively killed the road project. The building has been known as the Tyler Spite House ever since.

The completed home, eventually expanded to three stories and approximately 9,000 square feet, contains 17 rooms with 14-foot ceilings, raised paneling, eight working fireplaces with marble mantels, a winding staircase lit by an Austrian crystal chandelier, and five large upper bedchambers. The historical marker on the property, maintained by the Historical Marker Database, describes Tyler's medical career — he is identified specifically as 'the first American-born physician to perform a cataract operation' — and the unusual circumstances of the building's construction.

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the house served variously as a private residence, an office building, and a bed and breakfast inn. It operated as the Tyler-Spite House Bed & Breakfast for years before being listed for sale; as of early 2026, Yelp lists the B&B as closed and the building's current operating status should be reconfirmed before any visit.

The site sits at the heart of Frederick's historic Court Square district, adjacent to the former Frederick County Courthouse (now Frederick City Hall), and is a regular stop on Frederick ghost-walking tours.