Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland in the United States and the county seat of Anne Arundel County. Here is the headquarters of the United States Naval Academy. Annapolis is now a prosperous port city. In its various harbor bays (marinas) are hundreds of sailing yachts that cruise the Chesapeake Bay during the almost year-round sailing season.
Annapolis has a thriving community theater scene, including two
theaters in the Historic District.
The Colonial Players on East
Street presents about six shows a year in its 180-seat theater. A
Christmas Carol has been an Annapolis seasonal tradition since it first
appeared at the Colonial Players Theater in 1981. Based on the play by
Charles Dickens, Colonial Players' 90-minute production is an original
musical with a play and lyrics by Richard Wade and music by Dick
Gessner. Colonial Players, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in
1949. The first production, The Male Animal, was presented in 1949 at
the Annapolis Recreation Center on Compromise Street; in 1955, the
company moved to a former auto repair shop on East Street.
During
the warmer months, the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents three
shows on an outdoor stage visible from the City Dock. The nonprofit
Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has offered "theater under the stars"
since 1966, when it presented "You Can't Take It With You" and
"Brigadoon" at the Carvel Hall Hotel. 1967 saw the former Shaw
Blacksmith Shop He began renting the property at 143 Compromise Street
and became the owner in 1990.
The Naval Academy Muscaladers is a
theater group at the U.S. Naval Academy that presents a "Mainstage Show"
each fall and a student-directed one-act play in the spring. Its shows,
staged in Mahan Hall, are chosen to support the Academy's English
curriculum.
The King William Players, a student theater group
from St. John's College, performs twice each semester in the school's
Francis Scott Key Auditorium. Admission is usually free and open to the
public.
The Banneker Douglas Museum, located in the historic Mount Moriah
Church at 87 Franklin St., documents the history of African Americans in
Maryland and has offered educational programs, rotating exhibits, and
research facilities since its opening on February 24, 1984. Admission is
free.
Preble Hall, named for Edward Preble, houses the U.S. Naval
Academy Museum, established in 1845. The Beverly R. Robinson Collection
contains 6,000 prints depicting European and American naval history from
1514 to World War II. It is also home to one of the world's finest
collections of model ships, donated by Henry Huttleston Rogers. Rogers'
donation was the impetus for the construction of Preble Hall. The museum
attracts approximately 100,000 visitors each year.
The
Hammond-Harwood House at 19 Maryland Avenue was built in 1774 for
Mathias Hammond, a wealthy Maryland farmer. Its design was William
Buckland's adaptation of Andrea Palladio's Villa Pisani to suit colonial
American regional tastes, since the Hammond-Harwood House Association
purchased the house from St. John's College in 1940, It has been used as
a museum, displaying furniture by John Shaw and a collection of
paintings by Charles Willson Peale. Its exterior and interior retain the
original late colonial mansion architecture.
The Annapolis City
Dock is located at the foot of Main Street, down the hill from Church
Circle and St. Ann's Church. The dock, once called Carroll's Creek, is a
narrow channel leading from Spa Creek, called Dock Cove, to the downtown
core. At the end of the dock is a small park and an asphalt traffic
circle surrounded by the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, the Market
House, and historic buildings. The Market House is relatively modern,
but is located in a row of similar market houses built in 1730 when the
city market was moved from the State Capitol area to the end of the
dock. The dock itself is currently used primarily by recreational
vessels, not by commercial vessels or boats of Chesapeake Bay watermen
selling their catches. The dock and surrounding area are part of the
Colonial Annapolis National Historic Landmark (NHL) District.
The
Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley monument in the park at the end of the Annapolis
City Dock commemorates the arrival point of Kunta Kinte, an African
ancestor of Alex Haley: Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an
American Family. A group of sculptures on the memorial depict Alex Haley
sitting and reading a book to his three children. The final phase of the
memorial construction was completed in 2002.
The Paca House and
Garden is an 18th century Georgian mansion built by William Paca, a
signer of the Declaration of Independence. The grounds are terraced with
a restored colonial design.
Annapolis is a frequent terminus for
the Race Across America, an annual 3,000-mile transcontinental bicycle
race.
North of the state capitol is a monument to Thurgood
Marshall, the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice and once a Maryland
lawyer who won many important civil rights cases.
The World War
II Memorial, located in front of the Naval Academy Bridge, was erected
in 1998 to symbolize the sacrifice of the 275,000 citizens from Maryland
who entered the war. The memorial consists of 48 granite columns
representing the 48 states at the time of the war and surrounds an
amphitheater on which are inscribed the names of the 6,454 people who
gave their lives in the war. Directly behind the memorial, the flags of
Maryland and the United States are flown, and a seven-sided star-shaped
column serves as the base to represent Maryland as the seventh state in
the Union.
Early Settlement and Founding (17th Century)
The history of
Annapolis, Maryland, begins in 1649 when a group of Puritan exiles from
Virginia, led by William Stone, the third Proprietary Governor of
Maryland, settled on the north shore of the Severn River. They named
their initial settlement "Providence." This area was part of the land
granted to Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, under the Maryland
colony charter. The settlers soon relocated to a more protected harbor
on the southern shore, where the community evolved through various
names, including "Town at Proctor's" by 1683 and "Town at the Severn."
In 1694, following the overthrow of the Catholic Royal Governor Thomas
Lawrence, Francis Nicholson, the third Royal Governor, moved the
provincial capital from St. Mary's City to this location for its central
position and defensible harbor. The town was renamed "Anne Arundel's
Towne" in honor of Lady Anne Arundell, the late wife of Lord Baltimore.
After the death of Queen Mary II in December 1694, the name was changed
to "Annapolis" in May 1695 to honor Princess Anne of Denmark and Norway,
who would later become Queen Anne of Great Britain.
During this
period, Annapolis faced political turbulence tied to English conflicts.
In 1654, after the Third English Civil War, Parliamentary forces assumed
control, exiling Stone, who returned in 1655 as a Cavalier loyalist. He
was defeated in the Battle of the Severn on March 25, 1655—the first
colonial naval battle in North America—and replaced by Josias Fendall as
governor until the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Nicholson designed
the city with a baroque street plan featuring radiating streets and
circles centered on key landmarks like St. Anne's Episcopal Church and
the State House, a layout that influenced the planning of Washington,
D.C., and was admired by George Washington. The city was officially
incorporated in 1708, with Queen Anne granting a royal charter that
established municipal officials, fairs, and market days.
Colonial
Expansion and Prosperity (18th Century)
In the 18th century,
Annapolis grew rapidly as a political, administrative, and commercial
hub. It served as a port of entry and became involved in the Atlantic
slave trade, with shipping bringing wealth to merchants and planters.
Prosperous residents built elegant Georgian-style mansions, many of
which still stand today as museums, such as the William Paca House
operated by the Historic Annapolis Foundation. The city hosted social
events, including horse racing with imported thoroughbreds, and cultural
institutions flourished: The Maryland Gazette newspaper was founded in
1745 by Jonas Green, a theater opened in 1769, and cabinetmaker John
Shaw crafted notable furniture and contributed to the State House. St.
John's College, chartered in 1696 as King William's School (making it
the third-oldest college in the U.S.), opened in 1789 and emphasized a
Great Books curriculum.
Annapolis played a pivotal role in
pre-Revolutionary events. On October 19, 1774, patriots staged a "tea
party" similar to Boston's, forcing the owner of the brig Peggy Stewart
to burn his ship and its taxed tea cargo. As tensions escalated, the
city became a center for revolutionary activity.
Revolutionary
War Era and Early National Period
During the American Revolutionary
War, Annapolis avoided direct battles but served as the temporary
national capital from November 26, 1783, to August 19, 1784, following
the Treaty of Paris. The Maryland State House, construction of which
began in 1772 and was first used by the legislature in 1779, hosted the
Confederation Congress. Key events included General George Washington's
resignation of his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental
Army on December 23, 1783, and the ratification of the Treaty of Paris
on January 14, 1784, officially ending the war and recognizing U.S.
independence. All four Maryland signers of the Declaration of
Independence had homes in Annapolis, which remain standing today.
In
1786, the Annapolis Convention convened with delegates from five states,
calling for a broader meeting that led to the Constitutional Convention
in Philadelphia in 1787 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. By
1780, however, Baltimore had surpassed Annapolis as a port due to its
deeper harbor, shifting local industries to oyster-packing,
boatbuilding, and sailmaking. The Old Treasury Building on State Circle,
built in 1735, is the oldest surviving government structure in the city.
The Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol in continuous
legislative use, stands as a symbol of this era.
19th Century:
Naval Academy and Civil War
The 19th century brought institutional
growth. The United States Naval Academy was established in 1845 on the
site of Fort Severn, adjacent to the city limits. During the Civil War,
Annapolis remained under Union control and avoided major battles, but it
served as a hospital site for wounded soldiers. The Naval Academy
relocated its midshipmen to Newport, Rhode Island, from 1861 to 1865 for
safety. Camp Parole, a prisoner-of-war exchange camp, operated on St.
John's College grounds and nearby areas, housing over 20,000 soldiers at
its peak; deceased Union soldiers were buried in the Annapolis National
Cemetery. By 1900, the city's population had grown modestly to 8,585.
The U.S. Naval Academy Chapel represents the city's military heritage.
20th Century: World Wars, Growth, and Challenges
Annapolis
experienced steady development in the 20th century. A tragic event
occurred on December 21, 1906, when Henry Davis, a Black man suspected
of assault, was lynched without trial. During World War II, local
shipyards produced PT boats, minesweepers, and patrol boats. In July
1940, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg arrived in exile. The city's
maritime focus shifted to recreational boating, fishing, and sailing,
supporting events like the Maritime Heritage Festival and international
boat shows. Annapolis hosted soccer matches for the 1984 Summer Olympics
at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Natural disasters posed
challenges: Hurricane Isabel in 2003 caused a record 7.58-foot storm
surge, flooding downtown and leading to significant damage. Studies have
noted ongoing issues with sea-level rise and sunny-day flooding,
impacting tourism. From mid-2007 to December 2008, the city celebrated
the 300th anniversary of its 1708 royal charter with cultural events.
The Anne Arundel County Battle of the Bands, held from 1999 to 2015,
raised funds for music programs.
21st Century: Modern
Developments and Preservation
In the 21st century, Annapolis has
emphasized historic preservation. Since 1952, organizations like
Historic Annapolis have safeguarded hundreds of buildings through
advocacy, restoration, and education. The 2007 Annapolis Conference at
the Naval Academy aimed to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace, attended
by leaders like Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas. Tragic events include the
June 28, 2018, shooting at the Capital Gazette offices, which killed
five journalists and injured two. On September 1, 2021, an EF-2 tornado
from Hurricane Ida remnants struck, causing damage with 125 mph winds.
Today, Annapolis remains Maryland's capital, with a focus on its
historic district, which includes museums, shops, and Tidewater cuisine
from the Chesapeake Bay. The Colonial Annapolis Historic District
preserves sites like the State House, where the General Assembly still
meets. Walking tours highlight the human-scale layout, Naval Academy,
and St. John's College.
Location and Overview
Annapolis, the capital city of Maryland, is
situated in central Maryland within Anne Arundel County on the Western
Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It lies at the mouth of the Severn River
where it empties into the bay, forming a strategic coastal position. The
city is approximately 25 miles south of Baltimore and 30 miles east of
Washington, D.C., making it part of the larger Baltimore–Washington
metropolitan area. Geographically, Annapolis is the closest state
capital to the U.S. national capital and is notable for being the
smallest U.S. state capital by land area. Its coordinates are roughly
38°58′N latitude and 76°30′W longitude, with the city spanning a total
area of about 8.10 square miles (20.98 km²), of which 7.18 square miles
(18.60 km²) is land and 0.92 square miles (2.38 km²) is water. Excluding
the adjacent U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis boasts 17 miles of
waterfront, highlighting its deep ties to maritime environments.
Topography and Terrain
Annapolis is located within the Atlantic
Coastal Plain, a broad, low-lying region characterized by relatively
flat terrain and minimal elevation changes. The city's average elevation
is around 8 meters (26 feet) above sea level, with a minimum dipping to
-5 meters (potentially in tidal or reclaimed areas) and a maximum
reaching 34 meters (112 feet). The highest natural point in the city is
only about 50 feet above sea level, while urban elevations vary from
near sea level at the City Dock to as high as 92 feet in areas between
Bay Ridge Avenue and Forest Drive. This flat landscape is influenced
heavily by its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, which moderates local
conditions but also contributes to vulnerabilities like erosion and
flooding. The terrain includes gentle slopes rising from the waterfront,
with much of the land historically reclaimed from the Severn River—such
as the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, which borders the city limits.
Surrounding neighborhoods, such as Admiral Heights, Parole, and West
Annapolis, reflect this coastal plain setting, with development adapted
to the low-lying geography.
Hydrography and Natural Features
The defining natural feature of Annapolis is its extensive water
boundaries. The city is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the east and
the Severn River to the north, with numerous creeks and inlets weaving
through the area, including Spa Creek and College Creek. These waterways
not only provide scenic harbors and marinas but also support industries
like boating, fishing, and oyster harvesting, which have been central to
the region's economy since its founding in 1649 as a settlement on the
Severn's shores. The bay's tidal influence is pronounced, with the
city's low elevation making it susceptible to storm surges and sea-level
rise. Over the past century, sea levels in Annapolis have risen about 15
inches (38 cm), leading to increased tidal flooding—rising from an
average of 2 days per year in the 1995–2005 period to 18 days between
May 2019 and April 2020, and a record 120 events in 2024. Hurricanes,
such as Isabel in 2003 (which caused a 7.58-foot storm surge and $100
million in damage), exacerbate these issues, and the city has invested
in adaptations like a $37 million sea wall completed in 2024 and an $87
million City Dock Project initiated in November 2025 to mitigate
flooding through 2060. The Naval Academy, surrounded on three sides by
water, is particularly vulnerable, with some areas only three feet above
recent high-water lines.
Climate
Annapolis experiences a humid
subtropical climate (Köppen classification: Cfa), featuring hot, humid
summers, cool winters, and year-round precipitation without distinct wet
or dry seasons. Its low elevation and adjacency to the Chesapeake Bay
moderate temperatures, resulting in milder springs and summers compared
to inland areas like Washington, D.C., along with breezes that temper
extremes. Annual rainfall averages around 39–44 inches, distributed
fairly evenly, though summer often brings sudden heavy showers,
thunderstorms, and occasional damaging winds. Snowfall is light,
averaging 14–15 inches per year, primarily in winter months. Spring and
autumn are generally pleasant, with transitional weather.
Environmental and Geographic Challenges
Annapolis's geography
presents both advantages, such as access to navigable waters for trade
and recreation, and challenges, primarily from climate-driven sea-level
rise and extreme weather. The city has the highest rate of increased
coastal flooding in the U.S., with adaptations like elevated roadways
and floodgates being implemented, though these are projected to be
effective only for a few decades. Rare events, such as the EF-2 tornado
in 2021 from Hurricane Ida remnants, also impact the western edges.
Overall, Annapolis's coastal plain setting fosters a maritime culture
but requires ongoing resilience efforts to address environmental
pressures.
As of the 2010 census, Annapolis had 38,394 residents, 16,136
households, and 8,776 families.
The racial composition of the
population:
whites - 53.5%
African Americans - 26.0%
Hispanics
(of all races) - 16.8%
Asians - 2.1%
The average annual per
capita income was $27,180 (2000 data). The average age of citizens is 36
years. The crime rate is 1.2 times the American average, but slightly
below the Maryland average.
Like most state capitals, the backbone of the city's economy is the
public sector. Governments at various levels, as well as health and
education institutions belonging to them, form almost 3/4 of Annapolis's
jobs. Annapolis is home to the US Naval Academy and St. John's College.
The city's largest private employers are Annapolis-headquartered
ARINC (Communications Systems), The Home Depot (sales of construction
tools and supplies), Constellation Energy (electricity), and Northrop
Grumman (missiles).
For air travel, Annapolis residents use Baltimore Airport, located 25
kilometers north of the business center. Targood Marshall (IATA: BWI,
ICAO: KBWI) with 22.4 million passengers (2011). Regular flights are
made from the airport to dozens of US cities, as well as to London,
Toronto and a number of Caribbean resorts.
Passenger rail service
ended in 1968.
Interstate I-97 and US 50 pass through Annapolis
and its environs. On the northern outskirts of the city there is a
bridge across the Chesapeake Bay.
Public transport is represented
by 9 bus routes operated by Annapolis Transit.