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At the Crossroads of Conflict In the spring of 1861, as the Civil War broke out and divided the nation, Maryland braced itself for battle. Living near the Potomac River, the conflict’s pivotal border between North and South, Maryland’s citizens would witness the brutality of the war firsthand. The long clash engulfed homes, towns and livelihoods, leaving its mark here and in the area’s many battlefields. Local citizens, though divided by conviction, were united by[...]

When it comes to ice cream, Maryland is full of firsts. First ice cream on the continent? Check. Governor Thomas Bladen served up the sweet, creamy treat way back in 1744 (it was strawberry, if you’re wondering). First commercial sales of ice cream? Check again. A Baltimore milkman by the name of Jacob Fussell began the commercial selling of ice cream in Baltimore in 1851, and we’re still leading the way with the Maryland’s Best[...]

Journey back to the pivotal days of the War of 1812, also called “America’s Second War of Independence.” Visit charming Southern Maryland towns, the thriving and scenic Baltimore Harbor, and sites surrounding the nation’s capital that were critical in defending America’s fledgling independence. As fighting continued throughout the summer of 1814, Maryland’s brave defenders not only stood strong against British invaders up and down the Chesapeake Bay, but also inspired the poem that would become[...]

BALTIMORE, MD (January 25, 2021) – National Plan for Vacation Day is January 26 and it is the perfect time to begin planning a future Maryland vacation. The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism has just the right tools to help travelers uncover the many sites and attractions, special events, scenic byways, parks, recreational opportunities, and more that will make a vacation in Maryland a memorable experience. “National Plan for Vacation Day is especially[...]

BALTIMORE, MD (November 8, 2023) – The 2023 Maryland Tourism Awards were presented today at the 42nd Annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit in Baltimore County, Maryland. The awards, given by the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism Development (OTD) and the Maryland Tourism Development Board (MTDB), recognize excellence and major contributions in expanding the market of Maryland tourism products, maximizing opportunities to generate overnight stays, leveraging partnerships, and showcasing Maryland as an exciting[...]

The National Park Service created the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to commemorate the places and people who shaped the journey to freedom. Network to Freedom sites are documented places where the enslaved escaped from bondage, the routes they took, places where they stayed or found assistance, and sometimes places where their freedom was tried and tested. Network to Freedom programs provide authentic information about the Underground Railroad and people who escaped. Network to[...]

BALTIMORE, MD (August 22, 2024) — Governor Wes Moore today proclaimed September 2024 as the sixth annual International Underground Railroad Month in Maryland. The month acknowledges the significance of the Underground Railroad, and all those involved, for its contribution to the eradication of legal enslavement in the United States and as a cornerstone for the more comprehensive civil rights movement that followed. “The heroes of the Underground Railroad continue to have an international impact even[...]