The Maryland State House Maryland State House Facts
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The 20th & 21st Centuries The Maryland State House Maryland State House Facts As you cross into the newer, 20th century part of the Four Centuries of History ♦ Capitol of the United States, November 1783– State House, be sure to look up the grand staircase at August 1784 The Maryland State House was the first peacetime capitol the monumental painting of Washington Resigning His ♦ America’s first peacetime capitol of the United States and is the only state house ever to Commission by Edwin White, painted for the Maryland ♦ Oldest state house in America still in continuous Welcome have served as the nation’s capitol. Congress met in the General Assembly in 1858. legislative use to the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783, to ♦ Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, the August 13, 1784. During that time, General George You will know you have left the 18th century part of the first state house in the nation to win such designation Maryland State House Washington came before Congress to resign his State House when you cross the black line in the floor. commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Notice the fossils embedded in the black limestone. Once 18th Century Building Army and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the A Self-Guided Tour for Visitors you cross that line, you are in the “new” section of the Date of construction: 1772–1779 official end of the Revolutionary War. In May 1784, building, built between 1902 – 1905, often called the Architect: Joseph Horatio Anderson Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson minister to France, “Annex.” It is in this section of the State House that the Builder: Charles Wallace the first diplomatic appointment by the new nation. Maryland Senate and House of Delegates meet for their Dome annual 90-day Session between early January and mid April. The State House is a treasure trove of four centuries of Date of construction: 1785–1794 Maryland and early American history. Architect: Joseph Clark Both the Senate and House of Delegates Chambers feature Largest wooden dome of its kind in North America skylights by the studio of Louis Comfort Tiffany, as well as specially selected marble that reflects the red and gold 17th Century: The Old Treasury Building on the State State House Annex of the Maryland flag. House grounds, now closed to the public for restoration Date of construction: 1902–1905 work, was built in 1735 and is the oldest public building Architect: Baldwin and Pennington in Annapolis. When reopened, it will feature exhibits The Senate Chamber Basic Facts relating to the founding of Maryland in 1634 and its first Square footage: 120,900 square feet This chamber features capital at St. Mary’s City. portraits of Maryland’s four Height of dome, exterior to weather vane: 181 feet signers of the Declaration Height of dome, interior: 113 feet 18th Century: Three rooms within the State House, of Independence, from especially the Old Senate Chamber, are devoted to the left to right going around Visiting the State House important national events that took place in the State the room: William Paca, House at the end of the Revolutionary War. The State House is open every day from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thomas Stone, and except Christmas and New Years Day. To help make your Samuel Chase by John visit to the Maryland State House more enjoyable, and to Beale Bordley, and Charles 19th Century: The newly recreated 19th century Old House of Delegates Chamber interprets the important provide you with an understanding of its rich and historic Carroll of Carrollton by past, self-guided tour information is available in the Thomas Sully. events that took place in the 19th century, generally organized around the theme of the expansion of rights. Office of Interpretation on the first floor. For information about the Maryland General Assembly’s educational Charles Carroll of Carrollton programs, which might include a State House tour, see: by Thomas Sully, 1833 20th and 21st Centuries: This period is represented http://dls.state.md.us and click on “Visit Us” or call the in the 1905 annex to the building which houses the Department of Legislative Services Visitors Program Senate and House of Delegates Chambers and where the Coordinator at 410-946-5400, 301-970-5400 or The House of Delegates Chamber business of governing the state is carried out every day. 1-800-492-7122 ext 5400. The portraits in this chamber are of former speakers of the House, arranged in chronological order, beginning at The Maryland State House was designated a National the right front. The two most recent speakers featured are Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in Please note that security measures are in place at the Courtesy of the 1960, on the same day as Mount Vernon and Monticello. Casper R. Taylor, Jr. and R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr.; their State House and other state buildings. Picture ID is required Office of Interpretation portraits are to the right and left of the rostrum. It was the first state house to win such designation. for entrance and metal detectors are in operation. A Program of the The 21st century interpretation of the State House takes The Office of Interpretation is a program of the Maryland Maryland State Archives place every day as the governor, lt. governor, speaker of Governor Larry J. Hogan State Archives. Donations to support the interpretation the House and president of the Senate, all of whom have Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford of the building are welcome. To learn more about the their offices in the building, carry out the business of President of the Senate Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Maryland State House and its history and artwork, governing Maryland. Speaker of the House of Delegates Michael E. Busch please visit our web site at: statehouse.md.gov September 2015 The 18th Century State House Plan of the First Floor of the Maryland State House The 19th Century & The USS Maryland Silver Service The best place to begin your tour is in the Archives Room where you will find brochures and other information. The Old House of Delegates Chamber This room also features exhibits about the building Across the hall from the Old Senate Chamber is the and State Circle and their evolution over the centuries. OLD SENATE Old House of Delegates Chamber which has recently In 1858, this room was made fireproof, including the CHAMBER OLD HOUSE OF been recreated to how it looked in the late 19th century. brick floor, to store and preserve the state’s records. DELEGATES ROTUNDA The recreation of this space was guided by photographs SENATE STAIRWELL and documents found at the Maryland State Archives. The Rotunda COMMITTEE ROOM ROOM The rotunda is the space under the dome and is the center 18TH ARCHIVES ROOM/ CENTURY of the 18th century State House, built between 1772–1779. STATE STATE HOUSE VISITOR CENTER HOUSE CAUCUS ROOM The dome was added to the building between 1785–1794 and is the largest wooden dome in North America. It was GRAND built entirely without nails. STAIRCASE Under the dome is the HOUSE OF case displaying George 20TH SENATE CENTURY DELEGATES Washington’s personal ANNEX TO CHAMBER CHAMBER STATE copy of the speech he gave HOUSE resigning his commission as commander-in-chief of The Old House of Delegates Chamber, c. 1880 the Continental Army in the Old Senate Chamber Two monumental paintings in this chamber were painted on December 23, 1783. in the 19th century by Francis Blackwell Mayer: Considered by historians ENTRANCE The Planting of the Colony of Maryland, showing the first colonists celebrating their safe arrival in Maryland in 1634 to be the fourth most STAIRS TO important document LAWYERS MALL by planting a cross on St. Clement’s Island, and The Burning in American history, of the Peggy Stewart, which depicts the protest by Annapolitans Washington’s resignation The Senate Committee and Stairwell Rooms of the importation of tea in 1774. The large portrait is of Thomas Holliday Hicks, governor from 1858–1862. from power set the In these two rooms, visitors will find new, interactive important precedent of exhibits interpreting the events that took place during the The 19th Century the military being under time that Congress met in Annapolis in 1783 – 1784, as civilian authority. For much more information on this well as information about Annapolis in the 18th century Interpretation of this room focuses on the expansion of important event, visit the exhibits in the adjoining rooms. and the men and women who played important roles in rights in Maryland in the 19th century, including the these events. right for Jews to hold public office, the abolition of slavery The Old Senate Chamber in Maryland, and the writing of the state Constitution of The Old Senate Chamber has recently been restored to Two very important 1867 that is still in effect today. its appearance when the United States Congress met here historical portraits from November 1783 – August 1784. On December 23, are featured in these The State House Caucus Room 1783, General George Washington came before Congress spaces: William Pitt Next to the Old House of Delegates Chamber is the State House to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the over the fireplace Caucus Room that features a display of the USS Maryland Continental Army. Just three weeks later, on January 14, in the Old Senate silver service. This beautiful silver set, made by Samuel 1784, Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially Chamber and Kirk & Sons of Baltimore, was partially paid for by ending the Revolutionary War, thus making Annapolis The newly restored Old Senate Chamber with statues of Washington, money raised by Maryland school children for the cruiser George Washington and Molly Ridout the new nation’s first peacetime capital.