May 27 – Annapolis, MD

City Mooring Field

I really enjoy walking around old towns, soaking in the sights and trying to imagine what it would have been like on that same street 50, 100 or even 200 years ago. Wondering just how the same old buildings looked and what life was like for those that lived there. Here are a few of the old buildings we have seen this week

A view from the State House overlooking the harbor in 1906

Annapolis was first established in 1649, so there is definitely a lot of history to take in. Here are just a few historical facts about Annapolis.

• In 1708 Queen Anne of England granted Annapolis its City Charter
• Annapolis became the state capital in 1772 and 
• The State House (Capitol) of Maryland is the oldest in the nation still in legislative use. 
• General George Washington resigned his commission before the Continental Congress December 23, 1783.
• January 14, 1784 Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War. 
• Annapolis was the Capital of the United States when the Continental Congress met in Annapolis, Maryland from November 26, 1783 to June 3, 1784.
• From here on September 14, 1786, the Annapolis convention issued the call to the states that led to the Constitutional Convention.
• The US Naval Academy was founded on October 10, 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland.
• Annapolis has more of these original 18th century structures standing than any other city in the United States.
• Kunta Kinte, the first ancestor of author Alex Haley (Roots) landed in the city from an African slave ship and a statue of Alex Haley now marks the site.

The end of Ego Alley and dinghy dock

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial

Main Street

The Maryland Hotel...I couldn't find a date on this picture, but the corner looks a lot different today.

The Maryland Hotel today

The Maryland Hotel

Historic building in Annapolis

 Reynolds Tavern

A view from the State House 

Homes are built close together in Annapolis and sometimes they have walls that aren't square