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USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION
MARYLAND | ANNAPOLIS
Maryland State House VISIT ANNAPOLIS
Stroll Through the Past Annapolis reveals its story one block at a time By Adam Stone
T
HE HISTORIC CITY OF Annapolis, Md.,
has seen its fair share of trouble. In 1765, a mob sent the Crownappointed stamp tax collector Zachariah Hood running out of town in fear for his life. During the Civil War, the city’s strategic location made it a focal point in the defense of Washington, D.C., and it was one of the cities caught up in the “Red Summer” racial
violence of 1919. The point is: This is a town that knows how to weather a storm. Even with many businesses — including the U.S. Naval Academy, normally a must-see for visitors — closed or curtailed by COVID-19, it retains its Colonial-era charm. A casual stroll through the historic downtown district will reveal a wealth of architectural gems, many of which speak quiet volumes about the early history of the region and the nation. Most visible among these is the Maryland
State House. It’s the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, and was briefly the home of the Continental Congress. It was here that the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War, and it was where George Washington resigned his military commission. The city’s other architectural highlights include a number of historic homes. CONTINUED
