The Colonial Annapolis Historic District is a

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

in the City of Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland, that was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1965 and was geographically further expanded in 1984.

History and description

Annapolis has served as the capital of both the Colony/Province and the State, along with being the county seat of Maryland's third county, Anne Arundel County, and is one of the first planned cities in

colonial America The colonial history of the United States covers the history of European colonization of North America from the early 17th century until the incorporation of the Thirteen Colonies into the United States after the Revolutionary War. In the ...

. Many elements of the original town plan, developed in 1695 by Francis Nicholson, and about 120 of the 18th century buildings still remain. Along with its neighboring capital city to the south of

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

of the Province/Colony of Virginia and the first years of the independent Commonwealth of Virginia, both towns serve as a "living microcosm" of the 1700s and early 1800s in the United States. In terms of individually listed National Historic Landmarks and other sites on the National Register of Historic Places, the original historic colonial-era area includes the Maryland State House on State Circle, St. Ann's Church (Anglican/Episcopal) on neighboring adjacent Church Circle, and the historic residences, townhouses and some larger mansions of the town's wealthiest and most influential citizens of the Hammond-Harwood House and the Paca House and Gardens, the increase also includes the Artisan's House, Brice House, John Callahan House, and the Chase-Lloyd House. Most of the downtown and harbor waterfront areas were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965. (includes Addendum, February 1, 1983) and Sands House, and Jennings-Brice House / John Brice II House, and Maryland Inn, and Annapolis Post Office, and Donaldson-Steuart House / Kentish Inn; Anthony Workman House, and 77 Main Street / Site of Victualling House; George & John Barber's Store, and Masonic Temple / Lloyd Dulaney (or Dulaney) House, and two drawings) and The location of acclaimed national educational schools such as the St. John's College, (elevated to collegiate status in 1784, founded as "King William's School" in 1696) with its historic red-brick Colonial/Georgian and

Federal Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General *Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies *Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...

-styled buildings (including the former colonial Governor's Mansion, begun in 1742, later used as McDowell Hall, the primary college structure) and the 1845 establishment of the United States Naval School, the nation's second-oldest military college, (later renamed the U.S. Naval Academy) with its late 19th Century French-styled architecture of Second Empire waterfront campus on the site of old

Fort Severn Fort Severn, in present-day Annapolis, Maryland, was built in 1808 on the same site as an earlier American Revolutionary War fort of 1776. Although intended to guard Annapolis harbor from British attack during the War of 1812, it never saw ac ...

from the War of 1812-era facing the Severn River, provide a sophisticated air to the downtown streets adding the casually attired college students and white-uniformed naval midshipmen walking about amidst the rows of brick townhouses and wood-frame homes. With the establishment of the

Historic Annapolis Foundation History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

, as well as Annapolis Historic District Design Guidelines for New Construction, written by Robert Lamb Hart of Hart Howerton, the future of the city's historical heritage of the Colonial and Federal eras with its

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

and

period with its unique architecture was assured of a constant "watchdog" over any future abuses and neglect as occasionally occurred during the quiet years of the 19th and early 20th Centuries. The Colonial Annapolis Maritime Trail System is a part of the East Coast Greenway.

References

External links

*, including photo in 1982, at Maryland Historical Trust * umerous photo sets available by searching on "Annapolis MD" here at Historic American Buildings Survey {{National Register of Historic Places in Maryland Annapolis, Maryland Historic districts in Anne Arundel County, Maryland National Historic Landmarks in Maryland Historic American Buildings Survey in Maryland Tourist attractions in Annapolis, Maryland Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Maryland National Register of Historic Places in Annapolis, Maryland

History and description

See also

References

External links