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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 the District of Columbia.

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 Septemer 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 those that lie along the coast shore of Chesapeake Bay - famous for its crabs, oysters and clams and scenic beaches - and include Ocean City, Assateague Island National Seashore with its unspoiled sand dunes and bands of wild horses, the Maryland Science Center at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium.

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.

Tourism - Charles County, Southern Maryland - Maryland in the wild with a guide to nature trails, American bald eagle spotting, dining, shopping & hotels, cultural attractions, plus free online ordering of bicycle maps, driving tours, brochures and more.

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.

Maryland Summer Travel Calendar:

also see -> Christmas in Maryland

Maryland Beaches | Maryland Winery Tours

Maryland Fall Foliage | Moving to Maryland