Annapolis is famous for being America’s Sailing Capital, with deep maritime ties and home to the U.S. Naval Academy. We visited this city in August of 2021.
- Maryland State Capitol building
- Alex Haley Memorial
- US Navel Academy Museum and Chapel
- Sandy Point beach
- Quiet Waters Park
- Kent Island
Maryland State Capitol building – Completed in 1779, this was America’s first peacetime capitol and the oldest state house still in legislative use. It was the site of nationally important events after the American Revolution, including George Washington’s resignation as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. The building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960. We visited the building on a guided tour.
Maryland State Capitol Building, Rotunda – The front entrance of the State House facing the Annapolis harbor opens onto the Rotunda of the State House. This beautiful Rotunda is capped by the spectacular dome which still retains some of its original 18th century plasterwork.
The four signers of the Declaration of Independence who had homes and connections to Annapolis were Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel Chase, William Paca, and Thomas Stone. Portraits of the four signers hang in the building’s Old Senate Chamber.
The Maryland General Assembly convenes in the State House for ninety days, from January to April. The governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Delegates and president of the Senate all have their offices in the historic building.
Maryland State Capitol Building, Senate Chamber – is located in a wing added to the original structure between 1902 and 1905. Red carpet emblazoned with the state seal covers the entire floor. Large Ionic columns line the walls and support the viewing gallery. The marble along the walls and the columns are flecked with rust and black, Maryland’s official colors.
Maryland State Capitol Building, House Chamber – is located in the building’s new wing. The carpet is navy blue and designed with diamond and olive sheaths. The same rust and black marble lines the chamber and forms the Ionic Columns along the walls. A spectators’ gallery is above the rostrum. The speaker sits in front of a broken marble pediment supporting a clock. Portraits of former Speakers of the House hang on the walls.
Maryland State Capitol Building, Statues – The building features several statues, including life-size sculptures of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman in the Old House Chambers. Both of them played an important role in abolishing slavery. There is also a bronze statue of George Washington, placed where it is believed that he stood to deliver his address to Congress.
There is a lot of reading material in every room, detailing pivotal events in American history that occurred within its walls.
Kunta Kinte Alex Haley Memorial – commemorates the place of arrival of Alex Haley’s African ancestor, Kunta Kinte, to the New World, as told in the book Roots. It is located in Annapolis, Maryland at the head of the City’s harbor.
When Alex Haley’s best selling story Roots won national acclaim, a group of Annapolis, Maryland citizens recognized the significant role of Annapolis in the story. Led by Carl O. Snowden, the group approached the Annapolis City Council in 1979 to discuss placing a memorial in honor of Kunta Kinte at the Annapolis City Dock. In 1981 under Mayor Richard Hillman and in the presence of Alex Haley himself, the plaque commemorating the arrival of Kunta Kinte on September 29, 1767, aboard the ship Lord Ligonier was installed in the walkway along the water’s edge at the Annapolis.
Today the memorial includes the Kunta Kinte storytelling sculptures, the Story Wall, and the Compass Rose. The sculpture group depicts a seated Alex Haley, reading from a book on his lap to three children of different ethnic backgrounds.
Alex Haley Memorial, Story Wall – is a row of ten plaques. The plaques share messages designed to encourage reconciliation and healing from a legacy of slavery, ethnic hatred, and oppression. They include commentary and original art about translated epigraphs from Alex Haley’s messages in Roots. Here are the 10 messages that are displayed.
US Navel Academy Museum and Chapel – Founded in 1845, this Naval undergraduate school focuses on science, technology, engineering & math. Visitors can tour the the academy on a guided tour.
The U.S. Naval Academy Museum preserves artifacts and memorabilia relating not only to the academy but to important figures and engagements in America’s naval history. Among its most impressive collections, is the room full of model ships. These models are remarkable for several reasons, most notably for the fact that each model was made at the same time that its full-sized counterpart was being constructed. The models date back as early as 1650. Many of the model ships on the US Navel Academy were made by talented French POW.
US Navel Academy Chapel – The USNA chapel dome is one of the most recognizable icons in Annapolis, along with the Maryland Statehouse. The iconic 210-foot dome with a gold spire was first planned in gold leaf, but that proved too expensive, so instead it was built with terracotta emblems. Over time, these were ravaged by weather and lightning, and they were removed in 1928. The Academy then used simple copper sheathing in 1929. The dome has recently been re-surfaced and is now the color of a penny.
Shady Point State Park – Located on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, this beautiful state park offers miles of sandy beach, playground, picnic areas and boat rentals. From the Sandy Point beach you get a breathtaking view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that spans the Chesapeake Bay. The bridge is about 4.35 miles in length and connects Annapolis to Kent Island.
Shoal Lighthouse – You get a great view of Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse from the shores of Sandy Point beach. The lighthouse was built in 1883 and attracts people’s attention with its location and bright red color.
The park is also on the Eastern Flyway, a flight path for many species of migratory birds, making this a great spot for bird-watching.
Quiet Waters Park – situated between the South River and Harness Creek, the park covers 340 acres with extensive hiking trails and paved trails for bicycles. It also offers breathtaking scenic overlooks. The park is also home to beautiful formal gardens and provides six outdoor pavilions that can be rented for parties. The park’s indoor facility is available for weddings, parties, and business meetings.
Kent Island – is the largest Island in the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay bridge links Annapolis on the Western Shore with Kent Island on the Eastern Shore. The island has long trails for walking and biking and offers beautiful view of the bay. We drove over the bridge to the island and spent an hour in Terrapin Beach Nature park watching people Kiteboarding.
