You don’t have to be a seaman to
appreciate the charm of Annapolis
Living in Washington, D.C. provides access to a host of historic sites, museums and memorials. But nearby is a destination that offers a glimpse into our country’s early past, where you can learn how our nation conquered the seas, walk in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and see the democracy they dreamed of establishing at work each day.
It’s all found in Annapolis, Maryland—the state capital and home of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Sitting at the mouth of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay, this delightful port city is the perfect getaway for a day or a weekend. And you don’t have to be a seaman to appreciate Annapolis’ charm, as this Army spouse learned on a recent visit.
Between the town’s cobbled streets, 18th century buildings, active harbor, busy government center and the gleaming granite halls of the Naval Academy, it may be hard to decide where to start your tour. Susan Steckman, of the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau, provided suggestions for making the most of your time in Annapolis.
“For first time visitors, we always encourage people to get out on the water,” Steckman said. There are a variety of tour operators located at the City Dock area, including: a 40-minute narrated cruise of the Annapolis Harbor and past the Naval Academy aboard Watermark’s Harbor Queen; a two-hour cruise aboard the wooden schooners Woodwind and Woodwind II or the Spa Creek tour aboard Watermark’s Miss Anne.
Families with young children might consider a cruise with Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake — a 75-minute tour complete with water cannons and buried treasure search, according to Steckman.
Next on Steckman’s list of must-sees is the Maryland State House. “It’s the oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the country and is the only state house to have also served as our nation’s Capitol building when Annapolis was the capital from November 1783 to August 1784,” Steckman said. According to Steckman, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Old Senate Chambers of the state house, and it was here that the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War. The state house is open for visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday. A local tour company offers free guided tours on weekends. Outside the capitol is Lawyers’ Mall, where you’ll often see people protesting, practicing their rights to free speech.
Walk down the quaint streets leading away from the state house and you could be following the paths taken by the Founding Fathers as they went to their boarding houses or homes. Steckman said that all four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence had residences in Annapolis. All four residences still stand today; three are open to the public: the William Paca House and Garden (signer William Paca), the Charles Carroll House (signer Charles Carroll) and the Chase-Lloyd House (signer Samuel Chase). Information on visiting hours can be found at the Visitors Center on 26 West St.
Military families might want to put a lunchtime tour of the U.S. Naval Academy at the top of their list, Steckman said. “Individuals who visit the Naval Academy at noon during the academic year get to watch the midshipmen in noon formation before they head into Bancroft Hall for lunch,” she said. The formation includes a color guard and a band.
The best place to start your Naval Academy tour is from the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center, according to Leo Mehalic, an academy spokesman. The visitors center offers guided walking tours of the campus with stops at Bancroft Hall, Naval Academy Chapel and the Crypt of John Paul, and the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, where the story of America’s Navy comes to life. Visitor center hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, March through December. The visitor center closes at 4 p.m. in January and February. For a unique dining experience, have lunch at the Drydock Restaurant in the academy’s Dahlgren Hall, with its full-size replica of a Wright Brothers’ Model B-1 airplane.
If there’s time for shopping or a quick meal before heading home, Steckman recommended strolling along Main Street, Maryland Avenue, West Street and State Circle. “Maryland Avenue is a hidden gem that includes antique shops, trendy stores, The Annapolis Bookstore, Galway Bay Irish Pub and Restaurant, and much more,” Steckman said.
