MAIN Travel North America USA Maryland
Granted a royal charter by Charles I in 1632, Cecil Calvert, Lord
Baltimore named the new colony in honor of King Charles' wife,
Queen Henrietta Maria.
The
first in America to separate church and state - Maryland granted religious freedom
to both Catholics and Protestants with the passage of the Toleration Act of 1649
- which was eventually reversed some 10 years later by a Puritan revolt.
Following
the Revolutionary War, Maryland ceded land to form the boundaries
of the nation's new capital in Washington
DC.
The new nation
was barely in its infancy, however, when the War of 1812 brought
its old nemesis, the British, back to American soil. In their
attempt to capture Baltimore, the British heavily bombarded Fort
McHenry throughout the day and night of September 13, 1814.
But as eyewitness
Francis Scott Key reported, the fort withstood the attack and
by dawn "our flag was still there" inspiring the lyrics
to America's national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.
Today, in
addition to its proximity to the nation's capital, Maryland's
many tourist attractions include the US
Naval Academy Museum at Annapolis, the coastal shore of Chesapeake
Bay - famous for its crabs, oysters and clams and scenic
beaches - including stops at Ocean
City, and Assateague
Island National Seashore with its unspoiled sand dunes and
bands of wild horses.
In Baltimore,
top family-friendly attractions include the Maryland
Science Center at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and the National
Aquarium.
Kid-friendly
Baltimore
Along with
hands-on fun at Baltimore's science museum and aquarium (see above),
Baltimore's Port
Discovery also offers toddlers and younger children wonderful
activities and a chance to become part of the action at unique
exhibits, games, and activities covering history, science and
pop culture.
More history
is on display at the Babe
Ruth Birthplace and Museum, a mecca for baseball fans of all
ages; or, if it's too nice to be indoors make your way to Baltimore's Cylburn
Arboretum for walks around the nature preserve featuring family-friendly
activities and demonstrations throughout the year.
More about Maryland travel around the Web:
Maryland
- Welcome -
The official site featuring info on hotels & accommodations, restaurants,
major tourist attractions, pictures, video clips, guides to cities and towns,
historical background, kids activities, FAQ's, weather info, event calendar.
Baltimore.org - Check out neighborhood guides, pictures, fun facts, plus useful info on
hotels and restaurants, getting around, major attractions, seasonal events.
Welcome
to Southern Maryland- Maryland in the wild with a guide
to nature trails, cultural attractions, maps, driving tours, and
suggested itineraries.
Ocean
City Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Maryland by the sea - with beach guides,
events and activities, hotels, restaurants, driving directions, pictures, Ocean
City maps, calendar of events, FAQ.
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