Two significant facts about the Maryland State House are that it is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use in the U.S. and that it is the only one of its kind that ever served as the nation’s capitol. It was the country’s first peacetime capitol. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. During that time, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the Revolutionary War officially ended after the Treaty of Paris was ratified. Therefore, considering its outstanding historical importance and architectural beauty, we stopped here for a proper visit on our way back to Kentucky from the Northeast last summer since we hadn’t had an opportunity to do so on our previous visit to Annapolis.
Designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1960, Maryland State House had its construction delayed by the Revolutionary War and completed in 1779. Its present dome which replaced an earlier cupola was designed and constructed separately from the rest of the building. Its construction was completed in 1794 and is the oldest and largest wooden dome of its kind in the United States.
We had the option of taking a group tour of the interior of the Maryland State House guided by someone wearing a colonial dress but we did our own walking around instead. I hope everyone enjoys the below photos we took of the different legislative chambers of this historical building.
House Chamber
David and Lam 