Capitals - Annapolis, MD

Friday, September 17, 2021

Another capital that we've passed a few times, but never visited. Admittedly, we didn't pass by it after we decided to visit all the capitals, so it isn't like we were missing out on an opportunity or anyhting like that.

We stopped in Annapolis on our way to visit the kids in Alexandria, to babysit the grandbaby while they attended a wedding. It was overcast, and had rained earlier in the day - so that is what some of the dark splotches are on the marble and such.

The capitol from the median in front of the building, and from the plaza closer up.

Some of the statues in the plaza on approach to the capital (the area is somewhat visible in the images above), and a picture of the plaza from the capital.

Though we got our stamp at the end of our visit, here it is anyway.


We also picked up our shot glass.

We made our way inside through the Visitor's entrance, then went up the first floor for our self guided tour.
Some of the rooms had statues of famous people relevant to something historical.

This line on the floor separates the old capitol portion (on the right) from the new capitol portion (on the left).

The new Senate chamber, in the new section of the capitol building.
As a composite; the President of the Senate seat; a wide angle of the chamber; and the Tiffany glass ceiling.

The new House chamber, in the new section of the capitol building.
As a composite; the Speaker's seat; a wide angle of the chamber; and the Tiffany glass ceiling.

The original Senate chamber, in the original section of the capital building.

The original House chamber, in the original section of the capital building.
Here, George Washington is giving his resignatioon speech.

The Caucus room.

In the front of the Caucus room were two sets of silver in china cabinets (one is visible in the above image, on the left).
The one on the left includes (generraly left to right) St. Mary's County water pitcher and punch cups; Howard County roast platter; 2 Harford County entree dishes; Baltimore City & County punch bowl, plateau, punch ladle and cups; and Calvert County coffee pot and punch cups.

Here is a close up of the punch bowl, including a very close up of a teripin on its base.


The china cabinet on the right includes (generraly left to right) Queen Anne's County compote dish; Cecil County fish platter; Allegany County filet platter; Fredrick County game platter; Prince George's County coffee waiter; Wicomico County sauce boat and ladle; Somerset County sauce boat and ladle; Anne Arundel County centerpiece and plateau; and Caroline County compote dish.

On special display were some facimiles of different versions of the Declaration of Independence (one with a circle of the seals of the 13 states); a couple texts of how they were first printed in newspapers.

Outside the new Senate was a bust of Winfield Scott Schley. He was a Marylander that graduated from the Navel Academy, and eventually became a Rear Admiral.

There were a couple additional rooms with some portraits, mostly of the witnesses of the Washington resignation, who were also statesmen.
One room had some information about the dome. The dome itself was not only made bigger, but it has the distinction of being topped by the largest wooden dome in the United States constructed without nails.

Lastly, Annapolis is the oldest U.S. state capitol in continuous legislative use, dating back to 1772.

After we left the capitol, on the way back to our car, we captured the James Office Building (it just looks interesting), a fountain on the same block as the capitol on Capital Circle, and an Episcopal Church steeple with clock.