Added: 04/10/2006 |
Annapolis, Maryland -- Sailboat Capital of the WorldMaryland is known as "America in Miniature" because so much is packed into its 10,460 square miles of land and water. The "America in Miniature" title also applies to the role Maryland has played in the nation's history, from the founding of the United States to the present. Maryland is also home to ethnic groups of every origin. Famous Marylanders include politicians, lawyers, painters, crafts-people, writers, health professionals and religious leaders. Maryland was home to the first railroad, the first dental school and the first umbrella factory.
Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are famous for American maritime history. Lose yourself in this quaint seaport village steeped in hundreds of years of maritime heritage. The vibe is laid-back, the scenery is awe-inspiring and the local fare is seasoned with the flavors of the Chesapeake Bay.
Puritans were the first white settlers in the Annapolis area. Their first settlement, called Providence, was on the north shore of the Severn River, across the river from the present day Annapolis. The town was named Annapolis in honor of Princess Anne, future Queen of England. In 1694, Annapolis was named the capital of the entire colony. From 1694 until the Revolution in 1776, Annapolis prospered. It was not only the center of political life of the colony, but also the center of a very elegant social life. Many beautiful houses were built here even before the Revolution.
Today Annapolis is the state capital and is also known as the "sailboat capital of the world". Annapolis is the home of the United States Naval Academy, and Saint John's College and is located at the mouth of the Severn River on the Chesapeake Bay. Downtown in the Historic area, originally established in 1695, City Dock is a favorite place to visit.
Known to local boaters as "Ego Alley" it is the weekend and evening scene of a steady parade of expensive yachts. There is plenty to eat and drink in the area which is the site of the world's largest sailboat and power boat shows every October.
One of Annapolis's major attractions is the Maryland Statehouse. Thousands of visitors from all over the world pass through the State House in Annapolis. It is probably the best-known building in the state. Built in 1772, is the oldest in the U.S. still in legislative use, and was capitol of the U.S briefly in 1783.
You can visit the current house and senate chambers and also the original senate chamber where George Washington resigned as Commander in Chief of the Army in 1783. The State House was the nation's first peacetime capitol when the Continental Congress met in Annapolis. You can watch Maryland's government in action from visitor galleries.
Annapolis is also a location of one of the Maryland airports - Lee Airport, which serves as a gateway to the Annapolis area. For your next vacation, it's definitely worth remembering. Because having visited this great area once, you'll definitely want to come back again and again.
So make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy a visit to Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
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