Maryland is a Mid-Atlantic state of striking contrasts: historic Chesapeake Bay crab country, Appalachian mountain ridges, Civil War battlefields, and the vibrant harbor city of Baltimore. Flanking Washington DC on three sides, the state blends federal grandeur with blue-collar charm, colonial waterfront towns, and some of the East Coast's finest seafood.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Maryland.
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1
Maryland colony founded by Lord Baltimore; first settlement at St. Mary's City
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2
Colonial capital moved from St. Mary's City to Annapolis
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3
Continental Congress ratifies Treaty of Paris at Maryland State House, Annapolis
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4
Battle of Baltimore; British bombardment of Fort McHenry inspires Star-Spangled Banner
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5
United States Naval Academy established at Annapolis
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6
Battle of Antietam (September 17) — deadliest single day in American military history (22,717 casualties)
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7
Great Baltimore Fire destroys 1,500 buildings; city rebuilt within 2 years
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8
Maryland's public schools desegregated, ahead of many southern states
Historical sites
Places where Maryland's past comes alive.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Where: Baltimore
Admission: Adult: $15 (≈$15)
Antietam National Battlefield
Where: Sharpsburg
Admission: Adult:
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
Where: Church Creek (Dorchester County)
Admission: Adult: Free
Maryland State House
Where: Annapolis
Admission: Adult: Free
United States Naval Academy Museum
Where: Annapolis
Admission: Adult: Free (with valid ID for USNA campus access)
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park — Great Falls
Where: Potomac
Admission: Adult:
Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum
Where: Baltimore
Admission: Adult: $5 (≈$5) | Child: $3 (≈$3, ages 6-18)
Monocacy National Battlefield
Where: Frederick
Admission: Adult: Free
St. Mary's City — Historic Site and Museum
Where: St. Mary's City (St. Mary's County)
Admission: Adult: $12 (≈$12) | Child: $6 (≈$6, ages 7-12)
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
Where: Baltimore (Fells Point)
Admission: Adult: $5 (≈$5) | Child: $3 (≈$3)
Museums
Curated collections that tell Maryland's story.
Maryland Historical Society Museum
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed Monday-Tuesday
Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8) | Child: Free (under 13)
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed Monday-Tuesday
Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8) | Child: $6 (≈$6)