Annapolis has been the capital of the state of Maryland in the United States of America for about 300 years. It is also the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It covers an area of 19.7 km2 and has a population of around 40,000. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful colonial port cities on the East Coast. The number of small colorful houses and Amsterdam-like architecture is really charming. Annapolis is nicknamed the “sailing” or “shipping” metropolis.
The city lies on the Chesapeake Bay, at the mouth of the Severn River, about 42 km south of Baltimore. In 2007, the Annapolis Peace Conference was held here. It is home to the United States Naval Academy, which was founded in 1845 on the site of the former Fort Severn.
Among the city’s most important monuments is the Maryland State House, which is the oldest government house in continuous use. Construction began in 1772 and the first meeting of legislators took place here in 1779. The massive building is topped by a large wooden dome designed by architect Pierre L’Enfant and built without a single nail. On January 14, 1784, Annapolis was declared the capital of Maryland. It was in the Maryland State House in 1783 that the then US President George Washington gave up his mandate in front of the US Congress.
According to iamaccepted, Annapolis has a significant theater scene. The Colonial Players theater company produces about 6 plays a year in their small theater. The Annapolis Summer Garden Theater also operates during the summer months. The city is also host to the Bay Theater Company, a non-profit professional theater group. Annapolis is also a center of education, home to St. John’s College.
Art and history lovers can visit a number of museums and galleries. For example, the Banneker – Douglass Museum, located in the historic Mount Moriah Church at 87 Franklin Street, is interesting. This museum documents the history and fate of African Americans in Maryland. Admission is free. Another attractive place is Hammond – Harwood House, which originally belonged to Matthias Hammond. The Kunta Kinte – Alex Hailey memorial is also located in the city. It is located in the center of Annapolis, the so-called Downtown. The memorial is located on the site where the African ancestor of writer Alex Hailey, who wrote the famous book “Roots” about his great-great-great-grandfather Kunta Kintem, landed centuries ago.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island, 60 km long and only 2 km wide, stretches not far from the eastern coast of Maryland, where you can find true wilderness and untouched nature. Numerous species of wild animals have chosen the island as their refuge, so here you have a unique opportunity to see 300 species of birds, interesting mammals, reptiles and amphibians. However, the island is mainly famous for being inhabited by a herd of wild ponies, which are completely unique.
In the northern part of the island you probably have the best chance to see ponies, the largest so-called Maryland herd lives here. Ponies are calm and almost nothing disturbs them. Sometimes they visit campsites, where they watch the tourists enjoying themselves. However, as soon as someone tries to approach them, they run away, they are distrustful of people.
In the scrubland of the Chincoteague National Widlife Refuge live their close relatives – the so-called Virginia herd. However, these animals are quite shy and cautious, so it is literally lucky to see them at all. Every year, at the end of July, a hunt takes place here, when shepherds herd wild herds and hunt animals intended for auction. The island has been under the protection of the state since 1962, it is used for recreation, but at the same time, strict rules are followed to protect the local environment.
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Clara Barton or full name Clarissa Harlowe Barton was the founder of the American non-profit humanitarian organization Red Cross. Born on Christmas Day 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts, she was the youngest of five children. Her father was horse breeder and farmer Stephen Barton and her mother was a housewife named Sarah. Her parents were among the founders of the first university church in Oxford.
Her interest in nursing began sometime around the age of eleven when her brother David was seriously injured in a barn accident. Clara took care of him for two years and slowly learned some medical methods. Additionally, her aunt Martha Ballard was a midwife in Hallowella, Maine, becoming a great role model for Clara and encouraging her interest in nursing. During her profession in the years 1777 – 1812, Martha helped more than a thousand children into the world.
As an adult, Clara Barton became a pioneering American teacher, nurse, and person who felt the need to help people in need. She had a strong and independent spirit, on her initiative the American Red Cross was later founded. In the American state of Maryland, in the city of Glen Echo, there is a house where Clara spent the last 15 years of her life. This home has been designated a National Historic Site and is open to the public.