"Jacquelynn's Maryland Page" a Maryland Travel Page by Jacquelynn

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Statehouse

"Heaven and Earth never agreed better to frame a place more perfect for man's habitation" - Captain John Smith.

Maryland is famous for Civil War history, Railroading, African American history, diverse geography, and great local seafood.

The name "Maryland" has it's origins in Henrietta Maria, the wife of England's King Charles I. Known as "The Old Line State", Maryland was nicknamed in honor of General William Smallwood's "Maryland Line" which stood against British troops during the 1776 Battle of Long Island. It is also known as the "Free State"; coined by an editor of the Baltimore Sun who thought Maryland should secede from the Union rather than prohibit the sale of liquor.

The state flag comes from the 1st Lord Baltimore's shield, which dates from the 1630s. The black and gold quarters are the arms from his family, "The Calverts" while the red and white quarters symbolize the arms of his mother's family, "The Crosslands"

Maryland was a colonial settlement as well as the birthplace of our national anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner" written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key.

There are many Civil War sites to visit, (in addition to sites from the War of 1812.) On September 17, 1862, 23,000 soldiers lost their lives at the the Antietam National Battlefield, site of the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War.

Quick facts:
Capital: Annapolis
Size: 42nd in US
Statehood: April 28 1788 (7th state)
Flower: Black-eyed Susan
Governor: Robert L. Ehrlich Jr

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Sailboats

You can also visit areas along the Underground Railroad Trail, and follow it's freedom mission. The African American heritage to be found in Maryland includes that of Douglas, Tubman, Marshall, Henson, and Banneken.

There are several religious sites of interest. St. Clement's Island is the site of the 1st Roman Catholic Mass in the New World. St. Francis Xavier Church (1731) is the nation's oldest Catholic church still in continual use. The World headquarters for Seventh Day Adventists is in Silver Spring.

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Winter was rough last year

You may remember that Secretariat won the 2nd jewel of the Triple Crown at Maryland's Preakness Stakes. (This state has more thoroughbred horses per square mile than any other state, including Kentucky). Baltimore is famous for Babe Ruth as well as the Ravens

There are 12 wineries in Maryland, where the wine industry produces over 400,000 bottles annually.

I've found it odd that in Maryland, you must dial the area code in addition to the seven digit phone number.

Come for the history, the diverse geography, or just the world famous steamed crabs.