The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave:
A Sampling of Patriotic Sites in Maryland
BALTIMORE (February 5, 2009) The 2009 President’s Day holiday becomes even more significant to our nation in light of the recent swearing in of the first African-American President of the United States . Maryland continues to celebrate this historic event and also reflects on other momentous events in our shared national heritage. For the past 375 years, courageous Marylanders have stood in the forefront of movements towards liberty and achievement of the “American Dream”; events here often shaped what was happening on a national scale. Kings, presidents, soldiers and citizens all have contributed to a rich historic saga played out within our state borders.
A sampling of significant patriotic and national heritage sites is listed below. More information may be found on our website at www.visitmaryland.org or by calling 1-800-719-5900 to request a free Maryland travel kit.
Freedom as Our Foundation: The Settlement of Maryland
Maryland was founded on the basis of religious freedom and tolerance. The state’s roots as a recognized colony date to the days of England’s King Charles I, who promised George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, a colony north of Virginia. But before he set eyes on the land, George Calvert died; his son, Cecilus, became the second Lord Baltimore and spearheaded efforts to settle the colony. He named the land “Terra Maria,” or “Mary’s land,” in honor of Charles’ wife, Queen Henrietta Maria, and sent his younger brother Leonard to lead 140 colonists to the area and serve as their first governor. (NOTE: Call ahead to sites in this area, as they typically have reduced hours during winter months.)
St. Clement’s Island-Potomac River Museum: The group of English colonists fleeing religious persecution sailed across the Atlantic Ocean aboard two ships, the Ark and the Dove, and arrived in Maryland’s waters in early March 1634. They set foot upon land on March 25 (which is now noted as “Maryland Day”) to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. Among the first things they did was erect a giant wooden cross to represent the idea of religious tolerance. The St. Clement’s Island museum contains exhibits that offer an expanded focus on the history of how and why Maryland was founded. P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650, 301-769-2222, www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums
Historic St. Mary’s City: This is where the colonists set up the state’s first capital. It remained here until 1695 when it was moved to Annapolis. Today the city is a living history museum, where visitors can tour a replica of one of the ships that brought the colonists, see a working tobacco farm, visit and Indian hamlet and witness an old-fashioned trial. Archeology and reconstruction of important buildings continues; the brick chapel of 1667 is expected to be complete in March 2009. P.O. Box 39, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686, 240-895-4967, www.smcm.edu/hsmc
Laying the Groundwork: The Revolutionary Years
As one of the original 13 colonies, Maryland was the setting for important Revolutionary planning and events. Likewise, many Maryland residents helped to shape the budding nation. Maryland was home to four signers of the Declaration of Independence, including the only Catholic signer of the document. All four signer’s homes are now open to the public.
Maryland State House: Maryland’s is the oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States, and it served as the U.S. Capitol from November 26, 1783 until August 13, 1784. It is here that George Washington resigned as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. The room in which this event took place still houses some of the original furniture. 91 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-974-3400, www.msa.md.gov/msa/homepage/html/statehse.html
Washington Monument and Museum: This was the nation’s first architectural monument to honor George Washington. Robert Mills, the same architect who created the obelisk-style monument in Washington, D.C., designed the 178-foot column. Baltimore’s monument, which was completed in 1842, includes 228 steps that lead to an observation area. The climb will take your breath away . . . but so will the view! 609 Washington Place, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-396-1049, www.baltimoremd.com/monuments/washmon1.html
Washington Monument State Park: This park is named for the first monument dedicated to George Washington, a rugged stone tower erected on a rocky mountainside by the citizens of Boonsboro one summer day in 1827. Hikers enjoy the challenge of the Appalachian Trail and other mountain trails leading through the park, and a history center features exhibits of firearms and Civil War artifacts. This should not be confused with the Washington Monument in Baltimore City, which was the first architectural monument dedicated to Washington. 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713, 301-432-8065, www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/washington.html
Charles Carroll House: This 18th-century structure was the urban home of Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was also the last surviving signer of the document. 107 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-269-1737, www.hometownannapolis.com/tour_carroll.html
Chase-Lloyd House: Samuel Chase, a Maryland lawyer and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, began building this Georgian townhouse in 1769. It also has ties to Francis Scott Key, who married Mary Tayloe Lloyd here on January 19, 1802. 22 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-263-2723, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase-Lloyd_House
William Paca House & Garden: A rare, two-acre pleasure garden from the 1700s is the only one of its kind in the United States today. It is located behind a magnificent Georgian mansion, once inhabited by a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 186 Prince George’s Street, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-263-5553, www.annapolis.org
Thomas Stone National Historic Site: The home known as Haberdeventure, an early 1770s Georgian mansion, sits on 322 acres in this once-bustling colonial town. It was home to one of the four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. 6655 Rose Hill, Port Tobacco, MD 20677, 301-934-6027, www.nps.gov/thst
The Star-Spangled Saga: The Birth of a National Anthem
Francis Scott Key, a Maryland lawyer, was inspired to write the poem that later became the United States’ National Anthem after he witnessed the British attack on Baltimore’s Fort McHenry on September 13 and 14, 1814. (This battle was a pivotal turning point in the War of 1812.) Key was so inspired by the Americans’ valiant defense of the fort that he wrote a poem that he called “The Defense of Fort McHenry.” This poem was quickly set to the tune of a British song, and was adopted as the United States’ official anthem in 1931. Today it is perhaps the most recognizable National Anthem in the world.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine: This star-shaped fort is the most visited War of 1812 site in US or Canada, thanks to Key’s connection to it. A film shown at the fort’s visitors center quickly outlines the War of 1812, the battle at Fort McHenry and Key’s role in that historic occasion. When weather permits, a grand 30-by-42-foot flag flies over the fort. A new visitor center is scheduled to open in 2011. East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-962-4290, www.nps.gov/fomc
Maryland Historical Society: The original draft of Key’s poem, which was likely written aboard an American truce boat (not on a British ship, as legend often has it), is on display as part of the collection. The society’s museum also includes other artifacts from the War of 1812 as well as significant pieces from throughout Maryland’s history. 201 W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-685-3750, www.mdhs.org
Pride of Baltimore II: In the late 1700’s, Maryland led the nation in shipbuilding, particularly that of topsail schooners (called Baltimore Clippers). These ships were built for speed and agility as a defense against the powerful but lumbering English warships that still plied the Chesapeake Bay after the American Revolution. The goal of the British Chesapeake Campaign of 1814 was to burn the shipyards located in Fells Point, but they were defeated at the Battle of Baltimore and subsequently retreated to New Orleans. The Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of the Chasseur, now serves as an ambassador for Maryland and the City of Baltimore. She may be found in ports around the world and offers day sails and overnight programs. 401 E. Pratt Street, Suite 222, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-539-1151, www.pride2.org
Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum: This 1793 house is where seamstress Mary Pickersgill lived with her mother and daughter. (As a side note, Pickersgill’s mother, Rebecca Young, sewed the “Grand Union” flag under which George Washington took command of the American Army in 1775.) The ladies sewed both the famed “banner,” which measured 30 feet by 42 feet (now preserved at the National Museum of America History in Washington, D.C.), and the smaller “storm flag,” which measured 32 feet by 17 feet. It’s likely that the smaller flag was the one that flew during the battle and the larger one was raised when the British were defeated. 844 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD, 21202-4403, 410-837-1793, www.flaghouse.org
Mount Olivet Cemetery: Key was originally buried in Baltimore, the city where he died. But his family remembered his wish to be buried “beneath the shadow of the everlasting hills,” the Catoctin Mountain range that Key saw from his boyhood home, so in 1866 his remains were moved to Mount Olivet Cemetery. (These same Catoctin Mountains are now home to the presidential retreat of Camp David.) In 1898, the remains were moved yet again, this time to a more prominent site just inside the main gate of the cemetery. Today there’s an impressive monument -- and, of course, a flag -- to honor Key’s memory. 515 S. Market Street, Frederick, MD 301-662-1164, www.mountolivetcemeteryinc.com
Shaping a Nation: The Civil War Years
The mid-1800s saw dramatic change in the United States as two different ways of life – industrial in the North and agricultural in the South – struggled to maintain their balance. The country went to battle with itself – with Maryland firmly planted in the middle. Because of its geographical placement, Maryland could truly see both sides of the issues. The state was home to both Union and Confederate soldiers, but ultimately Maryland sided with the North; the state literally surrounded the Union capital of Washington, DC, after all. During this time in American history, abolitionists helped escaping slaves navigate the “Underground Railroad” along routes in Maryland and delivered their messages of civil rights.
Antietam National Battlefield: On September 17, 1862, 87,000 Union troops and 41,000 Confederates fought in a one-day battle that resulted in more than 23,110 injuries and deaths. The battlefield is considered among the most pristine in the United States and today is marked only by monuments and exhibits. A visitor’s center shows a film and provides a good starting point for a tour of the area. On the first Saturday in December, the battlefield is lined with luminaries – one to represent each soldier who shed blood that day – for a very moving pre-holiday memorial. Route 65, Sharpsburg Pike, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, 310-432-5124, www.nps.gov/anti
Boonsborough Museum of History: Anyone visiting nearby Antietam National Battlefield should stop at this small museum to see the countless Civil War relics that were unearthed from the areas surrounding the battlefield. 113 N. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD 21713, 301-432-6969
Gathland State Park: Once the mountain home of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist, it is now the site of a unique collection of buildings and structures that he designed and constructed, some of which have been restored and are open for tours. A large, stone monument dedicated to war correspondents from the Civil War to the present is a main attraction. The park property also encompasses the entirety of Crampton's Gap, which was the southernmost gap fought over during the Battle of South Mountain. Fought September 14, 1862, it was the first major battle of the Civil War to occur in Maryland. Located on Route 17, 1 mile west of Burkittsville, MD www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/gathland.html
Monocacy National Battlefield: The battle known as the one “that saved Washington” was fought on July 9, 1864. Confederate General Jubal A. Early defeated Union forces commanded by General Lew Wallace. But Wallace’s troops successfully delayed the Confederates, allowing Union forces to establish a strong defense of Washington, DC. A new visitor center with expanded exhibits opened in June 2007. 4801 Urbana Pike, Route 355 South, Frederick, MD 21704, 301-662-3515, www.nps.gov/mono
Barbara Fritchie House & Museum: It’s said that the ghost of Ms. Fritchie still walks in this reconstructed home. Fritchie was immortalized in a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, who paid tribute to her heroic actions of waving the Union flag as Confederate troops marched through her town with orders to destroy everything in their path. Fritchie and her home were spared. Fritchie is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, where visitors can find her grave and a copy of Whittier’s poem. (See listing under The Star-Spangled Saga for information about the cemetery.) 154 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701, 301-698-0630, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Fritchie_(person)
National Museum of Civil War Medicine: Exhibits illustrate the stories of the patients, caregivers and medical innovations of the Civil War. The museum is home to a rare collection of Civil War medical artifacts, and photographs depict the remarkable stories of those who treated and those who were healed. 48 E. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701, 301-695-1864, www.CivilWarMed.org
Clara Barton National Historic Site: This site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Barton lived here from 1897 until 1912. During those first seven years, the house functioned as the headquarters of the American Red Cross. At one time the house was also a warehouse for disaster-relief supplies. From her home here, Barton organized and directed the Red Cross relief efforts for victims of natural disasters and war. 5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, MD 20812, 301-492-6245, www.nps.gov/clba
USS Constellation: The last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy was launched in 1854 and is the only Civil War-era vessel still afloat today. Among its roles in history, it acted as a rescue ship for slaves crossing the Atlantic. In 1859, the Secretary of the Navy designated the Constellation the headquarters vessel of a six-ship squadron that would capture slave ships and arrange the freedom of the enslaved. Pier 1, 301 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-539-1797, www.constellation.org
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park: Known as a great orator and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass was born enslaved in Talbot County, MD. His owners hired him out as a ship caulker in Baltimore. It was here that he met his first wife. Isaac Myer was free born in Baltimore and was a member of the group that founded the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company, the first African-American owned shipyard in America. 1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-685-0295, www.douglassmyers.org
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum: The achievements of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and countless other African Americans are noted at this, the first museum of its kind. Among the most memorable exhibits is a replica of a slave ship. 1601-03 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213, 410-522-9547, www.greatblacksinwax.org
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture: This is the largest museum of its kind on the East Coast. The Things Hold, Lines Connect gallery features the stories of 200 years of slavery that wrenched and sometimes broke the bonds of African-American families and communities in Maryland. Other galleries interpret work, success, faith and creativity within the African-American community. 830 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-539-1151, www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org
Harriet Tubman Sites in Dorchester County: Called the “Moses of her People,” Tubman’s courageous work on the Underground Railroad led to the freedom of more than 300 slaves. A simple marker stands at her birthplace, but a memorial garden along Route 50 leading from Cambridge to Salisbury further pays tribute to Tubman. In addition, the Harriet Tubman Coalition conducts tours of local sites that relate to Tubman’s life and to the history of African Americans in the area. A new visitor center is currently in the planning stages with expected completion in 2012. Birthplace is on Green Briar Road in Bucktown; Coalition is located at 424 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613, 410-228-0401, www.intercom.net/npo/tubman/index.html
Defending a Nation: The World War II Years
In the 1940s, Marylanders and the rest of the nation went to war in Europe and Japan. Due in part to its proximity to Washington, D.C., Maryland was home to research and testing facilities for military operations. Maryland-based defense industries helped build the ships and aircraft for the US and its allies. In addition, the state has become the “resting place” for important military memorabilia, tanks and vessels.
Baltimore Maritime Museum: Among the three ships in this museum’s collection is the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney, the last surviving Pearl Harbor ship still afloat. Decommissioned in December 1986, today she is docked near the National Aquarium in Baltimore in the city’s Inner Harbor. Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-396-3453, www.baltomaritimemuseum.org
Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum: Military aviation took a huge leap forward with the advent of World War II, and Maryland’s Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company was a huge manufacturer of jet fighters and bombers. The museum today preserves and interprets Maryland’s many firsts in aviation and has several of these historic planes on display. Martin State Airport, 701 Wilson Point Road, Middle River, MD 21220, 410-682-6122, www.marylandaviationmuseum.org
Historic Electronic Museum: Many electronic devises were developed just before and during World War II, including electronic and wireless communication systems and radar. Artifacts include a radar-controlled anti-aircraft gun from World War II. In total, the museum offers twelve galleries ranging from the fundamentals of electricity to technology used to explore outer space. 1745 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 21090, 410-765-0230, www.hem-usa.org
Patuxent River Naval Air Museum: The museum is dedicated to aviation research, development, testing and evaluation. It was established at the site where pilots and engineers were taught flight performance and testing techniques during World War II, when an incredible number of aircraft were added to the Navy’s collection and needed to be tested for stability and handling. Captured enemy craft were brought to “Pax River” for evaluation, and the British brought their aircraft here to be tested during the war. 22516 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD, 301-863-7418, www.paxmuseum.com
Sheriff John F. DeWitt Museum: Located within the Historical Society of Cecil County, this small museum includes military memorabilia of all armed forces branches, dating from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm. Much of the collection is dedicated to World War II. 135 E. Main Street, Elkton, 410-398-1790, www.cchistory.org
SS John W. Brown: Designed as cheap and quickly built cargo steamers, the Liberty ships formed the backbone of a massive sealift of troops, arms, material and ordnance to every theater of war. Two-thirds of all the cargo that left the United States during the war was aboard Liberty ships. The SS John W. Brown is named after the man that organized the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and established the Local 4 of the Industrial Union of Marine Shipbuilding Workers of America. Today, visitors may cruise aboard the ship on select sailing dates. Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD 21224-0846, 410-661-1550, www.liberty-ship.com
U.S. Army Ordnance Museum: Historically, the Ordnance Museum traces its origin back to the Calibre Board which was convened in France in December 1918 to evaluate the lessons learned in World War I with regard to the use of artillery. Between 1925 and 1936 the collection expanded to include small arms, ammunition and combat vehicles. During World War II, many tanks and other foreign vehicles were shipped to Aberdeen and these now form the nucleus of the museum’s impressive collection. Aberdeen Proving Ground, B2601, Aberdeen, MD 21005, 410-278-3602, www.ordmusfound.org
(NOTE: Because this is a military facility, its open/closed status hinges on current world events. Please call before visiting to ensure that it will be open that day. Current photo ID and a day pass are required to enter grounds at all times.)
U.S. Naval Academy: The campus is home to a number of memorials, including one commemorating the United States’ victory during the Battle of Midway. This battle changed the entire course of World War II in the Pacific and was won by a small force of U.S. ships and airplanes against a much larger group from the Japanese Navy. At the on-campus museum, visitors can see the “Surrender Table” used by General Douglas MacArthur and the Emperor of Japan to sign the Treaty of Surrender that officially ended World War II. In addition, there are Japanese torpedoes on display throughout the “Yard,” and on Trident Point there’s a Submarine Memorial dedicated to Navy personnel who served on subs during World War II. Besides a bounty of information about World War II, the academy’s visitor center and museum provide a full introduction to the history of the United States Navy and its countless heroes, including John Paul Jones, considered the “Founder of the American Navy.” 52 King George Street, Annapolis, 410-263-6933, www.navyonline.com
(NOTE: Because this is a military facility, its open/closed status hinges on current world events. Please call the academy before visiting to ensure that it will be open that day. Current photo ID is required to enter grounds at all times.)
