Annapolis is the capital of the state of Maryland. Annapolis became the capital of Maryland in 1694 when the Maryland General Assembly decided to move the capital from St. Mary's City. A year later, the new capital city changed its name from Anne Arundel Towne to Annapolis in honor of Princess Anne, the sister of Queen Mary.

Annapolis in the only city in the United States that used a radial-only pattern for its streets. Other cities, like Washington DC, super-imposed grids onto the radial pattern, but Annapolis never did this.

Residents of Annapolis have organized together to preserve the historic core of the city since 1952. The entire Historic District is on the National register of Historic Places.


Looking down Cathedral Street from West Street.

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Bars and restaurants on West Street.

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St. Anne's Episcopal Church, built in 1775, sits in Church Circle.

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The Maryland State House from Church Circle.

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The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, built in 1824, on Church Circle between Franklin Street and South Street.

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Houses on Duke of Gloucester Street.

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Rowhouses at the corner of Conduit and Duke of Gloucester Streets.

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Businesses on Francis Street where it meets with Main Street.

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Looking up Francis Street at the Maryland State House.

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Rowhouses on Francis Street.

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The Maryland State House, which sits in State Circle.

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Businesses on State Circle.

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The State House Inn on State Circle, built in 1786. To the right of the Inn is Chancery Lane, a little alleyway that connects State Circle to Main Street. The radial pattern of streets made travelling from some destinations to other destinations difficult due to walking "the long way", and so residents made shortcuts. These shortcuts often went through backyards and private property. Eventually, these paths became important enough that they were given names. Chancery Lane was named for the old Chancery Court, which was disbanded in 1851. In the past 30 or 40 years, Annapolis has purchased many of the pathways for official public use, and has even paved many of them.

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Government House, the Governor's mansion on School Street between State Circle and Church Circle. Government House was built in 1870 in the French Empire style and was remodelled in 1936 in the Georgian style to match with other period buildings throughout the Historic District.

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Houses on at the corner of State Circle and School Street.

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On the right is the Annapolis Post Office on Church Circle, built in 1901.

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Looking up School Street at the State House from Church Circle.

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Looking down Main Street towards the Chesapeake Bay.

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Businesses on Main Street.

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More businesses on Main Street.

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More businesses on Main Street heading down the hill to the Chesapeake Bay.

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Businesses near the south end of Main Street.

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Businesses on Main Street near Green Street.

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Businesses along Dock Street, with City Dock in the foregound. City Dock is the old docking area for ships. The brick building on the left is Middleton's Tavern, built in the early 1700's. In the background is the dome of the Navy Chapel.

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Looking up Main Street at Church Circle from City Dock. the State House is in the background on the right.

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Businesses on Dock Street. Boats are docked in City Dock in the foreground.

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More businesses on Dock Street. The Navy Chapel dome is in the background.

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Looking across where Spa Creek empties into the Chesapeake Bay at the neighborhood of Eastport.

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Looking across the edge of the bay at the US Naval Academy complex.

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Downtown Annapolis. This view has not changed much in 200 years.

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absolutely beautiful area - thanks for the photos. this area should be a model for all northeastern and midwestern cities to emulate. inner-city areas have so much interesting architecture, but are often plagued with vinyl, inappropriate windows and painted brick.

Great pictures of one of the best collections of colonial architecture in the country. I like the funky street layout there, there are always narrow alleys and sidestreets that pop out at you. The town has an energetic feel from the presence of state government and the Naval Academy / St John's College. The Naval Academy itself is quite attractive as well. They're getting some substantive and pretty attactive infill development in some areas, too, though mostly away from the historic core. One of the best small cities I've been to; the colonials did it right when it came to urban planning.

Great photos! Annapolis is like the Charleston or Newport of the mid-Atlantic.

What's wrong with painted brick Bungalow...it can look good if it's maintained and as long as it's not off the wall colors like neon green.

The Naval Academy itself is quite attractive as well. They're getting some substantive and pretty attactive infill development in some areas..


You got that right. It feels like ages since I last visted Annapolis. As always xzmattzx great photos and info to back it up.

absolutely beautiful area - thanks for the photos. this area should be a model for all northeastern and midwestern cities to emulate. inner-city areas have so much interesting architecture, but are often plagued with vinyl, inappropriate windows and painted brick.

Painted brick isn't necessarily bad. It can be quite good really. Notice that many buildings on Main Street in Annapolis have painted brick.

a national treasure...

I grew up between bmore and annapolis.

http://www.visitannapolis.org/index.asp?action=explore_perspectives

An Illustrious History...

As you walk along the quaint and welcoming streets of Annapolis, you will experience her rich architectural past. In fact, Annapolis boasts more surviving colonial buildings than any other place in America.
Founded in 1649 by a group of Virginia Puritans lured by religious tolerance, Anne Arundel Town became the capital city of proprietary Maryland in 1695 and was renamed Annapolis, in honor of Princess Anne, heiress to the English throne.

By the 18th century, Annapolis was a lively cultural and social center for the Mid-Atlantic area. All four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence had town homes in the city - William Paca, Thomas Stone, Samuel Chase and Charles Carroll. Their residences have all been preserved and three of the homes are open to the public.

The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol building in the United States in continuous legislative use. It served as the nation�fs first peacetime capitol from November 1783 to August 1784. You can still see the original Old Senate Chamber where General George Washington resigned his commission and where Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially recognizing the independence of the American colonies from Britain.

St. John's College is our country's third-oldest school. St. John's includes among its illustrious alumni Francis Scott Key, author of "The Star Spangled Banner." During the Civil War, the college served as a military hospital. St. John's curriculum is based on the "Great Books."

History spills over into Anne Arundel County. Just south of Annapolis is Historic London Town and Gardens, where archaeologists are uncovering history daily as they find the original building sites of the 18th century town of London. Visitors can tour the William Brown House, built in the early 1700s, and walk through the delightful woodland gardens.

Further south are the quaint waterman towns of Galesville, Deale and Shady Side. Here, workboats bring home the bounty of the bay and families from the big city of Washington come to enjoy the summer breezes. Don't miss the Captain Salem Avery House which depicts the life of the 19th century waterman.

When, in the course of human events...

Maryland is the only colonial state where the homes belonging to all its signers of the Declaration of Independence are preserved and they're located in Annapolis.

Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone was the youngest Maryland signer at 33. Stone favored reconciliation with England almost up to the vote for independence.

Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies at the time he signed the Declaration. He was the only Catholic to sign, and he was the last surviving signer at the time of his death in 1832.

William Paca
William Paca helped organize the local Sons of Liberty to protest the 1765 Stamp Act. Paca served as the Governor of Maryland for three one-year terms in the 1780s.

Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase, born in Princess Anne, Somerset County, began building his house in 1769 but never lived there. He ended his career as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1796 to 1811.

Great photos! Annapolis is like the Charleston or Newport of the mid-Atlantic.

What's wrong with painted brick Bungalow...it can look good if it's maintained and as long as it's not off the wall colors like neon green.

does alexandria, va count as the mid-atlantic in your opinion? i guess it could also be the charleston or newport of the mid-atlantic???
although unlike annapolis and i think, newport i don't think it's known for sailing. also alexandria is a suburb of dc now and i guess doesn't have a strong identity like the others?

isn't annapolis somewhat of an expensive town??? (thats something i've always wondered)

definatly one of the cutest little state capitals out there. potentially even the winner, who knows.

isn't annapolis somewhat of an expensive town??? (thats something i've always wondered)

Real estate in town, especially old buildings, is quite expensive and not always available. That environment is unique and it's not surprising that costs. You would have to pay a lot for a little wooden townhouse on a narrow street that requires a lot of care and a strong termite contract.

does alexandria, va count as the mid-atlantic in your opinion? i guess it could also be the charleston or newport of the mid-atlantic???
although unlike annapolis and i think, newport i don't think it's known for sailing. also alexandria is a suburb of dc now and i guess doesn't have a strong identity like the others?

I think all of N VA is generally thought of as part of the Mid Atlantic. Alexandria is certainly part of the continuum of megalopolis cities, being right across the river from DC. Like Annapolis, it has a great collection of fine old buildings and an enjoyable walking environment.

Great pictures of one of the best collections of colonial architecture in the country. I like the funky street layout there, there are always narrow alleys and sidestreets that pop out at you. The town has an energetic feel from the presence of state government and the Naval Academy / St John's College. The Naval Academy itself is quite attractive as well. They're getting some substantive and pretty attactive infill development in some areas, too, though mostly away from the historic core. One of the best small cities I've been to; the colonials did it right when it came to urban planning.

The State government has been important in keeping the atmosphere right too. They have a bunch of large office buildings at the edge of the old city, but they have made an effort to keep them within the height and style of the old buildings. The larger, newer styled buildings are all across the creek, separate from the old city, out of the sight line, near the Naval Academy stadium. Considering that both the State and the Academy once entertained tearing down much of the historic area for modern facilities, they have ended up being important in the preservation of a unique American place. My agency has offices in Baltimore and Annapolis and I love the days when I get to visit Annapolis. Aside from the look of the place, Annapolis has a very pleasant, friendly human environment that is quite different from the attitudes in Baltimore.

What a gorgeous place!!!!!

Nothing more relaxing than taking a stroll around downtown Annapolis on a warn sunny afternoon ! Beautiful city ! Well preserved , too.

I've always thought that Maryland in general, but Annapolis in particular, should be higher on the list of must-see tourist destinations in the US. Unlike the bigger attraction of Williamsburg, VA, Annapolis is not only a museum of colonial America, but a place where "real" people actually live and work. Its palpable legacies as colonial port, colonial and state capital, old college town, and home to the US Naval Academy, whose Midshipmen add character and color to the streets, combine to create an atmosphere that is, I think, totally unique in this country. If you want to experience over three hundred continuous years of American history, come to Annapolis, MD.

does alexandria, va count as the mid-atlantic in your opinion? i guess it could also be the charleston or newport of the mid-atlantic???
although unlike annapolis and i think, newport i don't think it's known for sailing. also alexandria is a suburb of dc now and i guess doesn't have a strong identity like the others?

Alexandria has been a suburb of DC for more than 200 years. It's not known for sailing or boating really, but does have a smallish Old Town area of great colonial-style buildings, though it is definitely not as immaculately preserved as Annapolis. It also does not have the distinction of being the location of the Maryland State House, which is the oldest continuously used state capital building in the US, and of the Naval Academy. Newport is the sailing capital of the entire US, though Annapolis also has a very strong history of sailing (many international sailing competitions are based there).