Sacred Heart Chapel at White Marsh was built about 1741 by Jesuit priests on the property known as White Marsh, where they turned a 2,000 acre bequest into a thriving plantation. During the 1780's the American clergy met several times at White Marsh, and on May 18th, 1789, they nominated John Carroll to be the first American Bishop. In the 1800's Jesuit novices studied at White Marsh, including Pierre de Smet, missionary to the Indians. On Pentacost, 1853, fire destroyed everything on the hill except the walls of the chapel. The present reconstruction dates from 1956 and has been renovated many times. It is the oldest Catholic church in Prince George's County.