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Maryland
More About Maryland State
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I, King of England. Calvert's awkward little ships, the Ark and the Dove, then carried the 222 passengers, including religious refugees, to a Native American village a few miles away. They purchased the village and named it Saint Maries Citty (now St. Mary's City). Religious tolerance was practiced from the colony's founding and was assured by law in 1649. The land was cleared, tobacco was planted, and over the years, profits built elegant mansions, many of which still stand.
Maryland was one of the 13 original colonies. Its first capital was St. Mary's City. In 1694, the capital was transferred to Annapolis, where it remains today.
Every war waged on US soil has seen major action by Marylanders. In 1755, British General Edward Braddock, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel George Washington, trained his army at Cumberland for the fight against the French and Indians. In the Revolution, General William Howe invaded Maryland at the head of Chesapeake Bay, and a battle was joined at Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania before the British moved on to capture Philadelphia. Maryland troops in the Battle of Long Island made a heroic bayonet coverage of the retreat. The courageous action of the "Old Line" gave the state one of its nicknames. The War of 1812 saw Fort McHenry at Baltimore withstand attack by land and sea, with the action immortalized in the national anthem by Francis Scott Key, a Frederick lawyer. In the Civil War, Maryland was a major battleground at Antietam; troops moved back and forth through the state for the four bloody years of destruction.
A border state with commercial characteristics of both North and South, Maryland found its original dependence on tobacco relieved by the emerging Industrial Revolution. Modern factories, mills, and ironworks around Baltimore became important to the state's economy. Educational institutions were established and the port of Baltimore, at the mouth of the Patapsco River, flourished. In the mid-19th century, with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal carrying freight to the fast-developing western states, Maryland thrived.
Sports enthusiasts have always thought well of Maryland. The state's thousands of miles of tidal shoreline allow plenty of elbow room for aquatic diversion. Maryland's race tracks include Pimlico (see BALTIMORE), featuring the nationally known Preakness Stakes, and Laurel. The "Maryland Million" is held alternately at Laurel and Pimlico. Deer hunting is allowed in most counties and goose hunting on the Eastern Shore. Historical sites cover the landscape, and more are constantly being opened up to the public by the state and National Park Service. Highways are good; reaching places in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area is simplified by direct, high-speed, four-lane highways constructed around, between, and radiating from these cities.
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Maryland
Statistics & Vital Data |  |
| Population: | 5296486 |
| Area: | 9,838 square miles |
| Timezone: | Eastern |
| Elevation: | 0-3,360 feet |
| High
point: | Backbone Mountain (Garrett County) |
| Joined
Union: | Seventh of original 13 states (April 28, 1788) |
| State
Capital: | Annapolis |
| State
Motto: | "Manly deeds, womanly words" |
| State
Flower: | Black-Eyed Susan |
| State
Bird: | Baltimore Oriole |
| State
Tree: | White Oak |
| State
Fair: | Late August-early September in Timonium (see Towson) (see Towson) |
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Maryland Events >> | | View
Maryland Attractions >> |
Maryland Parks, Recreation Areas, & Historical Landmarks:
State Parks - Water-related activities, hiking, riding, various other sports, picnicking and visitor centers, as well as camping, are available in many of Maryland's parks. Most state-maintained areas have small charges for parking and special services. Camping: $2-$22/site/night; stays limited to two weeks; most areas are open late March-early December, but the season varies from one park to the next; check-out is 3 pm; reservations for a stay of one week are available at Assateague--they may be obtained by writing directly to the park. Pets are allowed at the following parks (some special restrictions may apply; phone ahead): Green Ridge Forest, Elk Neck, Patapsco (Hollofield), Point Lookout, Rocky Gap, Savage River Forest, Susquehanna, Swallow Falls, Garrett Forest, Potomac Forest, and Pocomoke River (Milburn Landing). Day use: 8 am-sunset; closed Dec 25; fee Mar-Oct. For complete information, including information on cabins, contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Forest and Park Service, Tawes State Office Building E-3, 580 Taylor Ave, Annapolis 21401; phone toll-free 888/432-2267 or 800/830-3974. It is advisable to call parks before visiting, as some may be closed during the off-season.
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list of all parks in Maryland >> | |
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Maryland
Weather and Climate:
Spring and autumn are popular times to visit Maryland. Winter weather is unpredictable and summers can be hot and humid. | |
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Fishing/Hunting
Opportunities in Maryland:
Nontidal, nonresident fishing license, $20; five-day, $7; trout stamp, $5. Chesapeake Bay nonresident fishing license, $12; five-day, $4. Nonresident hunting licenses: consolidated, $86-$135, depending on state of residence; three-day, $35; waterfowl stamp $6; regular deer stamp, $9.50; bow hunting deer stamp, $3.50; black powder deer stamp, $3.50; second deer stamp, $10. For the latest information, including Maryland Sportfishing Guide or the Guide to Hunting, Trapping in Maryland, contact Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Licensing & Registration Service, 580 Taylor Ave B-1, Annapolis 21404-1869; phone 410/260-8200. | |
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| | Additional Maryland Visitor Information:
The Maryland guide to travel, Destination Maryland, and a calendar of events can be obtained from the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, 217 E Redwood St, Baltimore 21202; phone 800/543-1036.
There are several visitor information centers in Maryland; visitors who stop by will find information and brochures helpful in planning stops at points of interest. Their locations are as follows: on I-95 (N and S) near Laurel; on I-70 (E and W) between Hagerstown and Frederick; on US 15 S at Emmitsburg; on I-95 S near North East; on US 48 E near Friendsville; on US 13 N near Maryland-Virginia line; in the State House, Annapolis; Crain memorial, on US 301 N, Newburg; and in Bay Country, on US 301 N/S, Centreville. (Daily; closed holidays) |
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