&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In 1941 the Harvard Lacrosse team arrived at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland for their scheduled match. However, upon seeing that the Harvard team was racially integrated, the Naval Academy's superintendent Rear Admiral Russell Wilson refused to allow the teams to play. Harvard's coach and team mates&nbsp;had all but decided to forfeit when the athletic director for Harvard, William Bingham, ordered the coach to send Harvard's one Black player home.&nbsp;Upon hearing his coaches dilemma,&nbsp;Lucien Alexis Jr,&nbsp;the only Black player on their team voluntarily decided to leave of his own accord. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The game went on as scheduled.&nbsp;Harvard lost with a devastating score of 0-12 to the Navy. Upon returning home, the students of Harvard were outraged by the unjust treatment of one of their fellow peers. The school's newspaper voiced their outrage at not only the Navy's treatment but also the actions of those in charge at Harvard who allowed such unjust actions so be taken against one of their own. They demanded to know why they did not act against such racism but instead gave in to it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The story spread like wildfire. All across the country people were outraged by these events. These types of things were not uncommon but bith Harvard and the Navy were held to higher standards than others.&nbsp;After so much bad press, it was decided that Harvard would no longer tolerate racism against any of its athletes. The school even went so far as to complain to President Roosevelt about the actions of the Navy.

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In 1941, the Harvard Lacrosse team arrived at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland for a scheduled match. Upon seeing that the team was racially integrated, the Naval Academy's superintendent refused to allow them to play. Harvard's team decided that they would willingly forfeit but after talking with the coach, the only Black player on the team decided to go home and allow the match to go on.

1941 Harvard-Navy Lacrosse Game

This short walking tour includes many of the historical markers and landmarks in downtown Annapolis, including several historic hotels, museums, and monuments. The tour concludes at the nearby US Naval Academy with several landmarks and monuments that are central to the history of the Academy. 

Annapolis Walking Tour 

The Flag House Inn was originally constructed as a pair of townhouses in 1879 by a Welsh immigrant, Richard Owen Williams. This pair of townhouses served as a short-term residences or boarding houses for young women from the late nineteenth to the mid twentieth century. During this period, male suitors from the nearby U.S. Naval Academy (which admitted only males until the 1970s) would call upon the young women who were staying in the boarding houses. Once inside, the suitors were not permitted to go anywhere beyond the parlor. According to a popular anecdote, the mid-twentieth century proprietor, Helen Stinchcomb, would issue a warning to the male suitors (many of whom were midshipmen): "Do you see this line? None of you are to cross it!"In the 1990s, the two buildings were jointly purchased by Tom and Connie Teigen, who modernized the property and converted it into a bed and breakfast. The Teigens renovated the interior and upgraded the plumbing and electrical systems. They also created a uniform style for the two buildings, which previously had a markedly different appearance and character. In 1997, Bill and Charlotte Schmickle purchased the property, further adding historical details and decorative features. The Schmickles operated a bed and breakfast on site for over two decades.In 2018, the inn was sold to Marty and Carmel Etzel. Having grown up in the Chesapeake Bay region, the Etzels have retained a strong fondness for Annapolis. They also currently maintain an extensive collection of flags representing countries around the world, in addition to local and state flags. With their voluminous flag collection, the Etzels have launched a new tradition. By flying various flags on the front porch each week, they celebrate the heritage of their changing roster of guests. As a result, locals and visitors alike have come to enjoy seeing a rotating selection of flags waving in the breeze at the Flag House Inn.

The historic Flag House Inn is comprised of two townhouse style buildings, which were built in 1879 by a Welsh immigrant, Richard Owen Williams. Each of these buildings initially served as a boarding house for young women. Later, the two boarding houses were converted into private residences before they were jointly purchased in the 1990s and converted into a bed and breakfast. Marty and Carmel Etzel, the current owners of the Flag House Inn, maintain a comprehensive collection of flags from around the world. The particular flags that they display on the front porch each week are representative of their changing roster of guests. In addition, the inn's name is also a nod to the Flag House Museum in nearby Baltimore, which celebrates Francis Scott Key's penning of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Flag House Inn

Known as the "historic heart of Annapolis," the City Dock was established as early as 1634, with no prior settlements in the vicinity. By the end of the seventeenth century, it became an important port within the Chesapeake Bay region. During this period, it served as the site of warehouses, shipping, and trade. As industry expanded throughout the region in the 1700s and 1800s, the wharf area also grew. By the end of the Civil War era in the late 1800s, the port was associated with another period of rapid urban industrialization that lasted through the first decades of the twentieth century.Following a period of urban renewal in the mid-twentieth century, the Annapolis City Dock became a well-known tourist area, particularly in conjunction with the designation of downtown Annapolis as a National Historic District in 1965. Today, it remains an important commercial area, with the historic waterfront flanked by shops and restaurants. Several different architectural styles are represented along the waterfront, including Colonial, Early Republic, Georgian, and Late Victorian.In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) declared the Annapolis City Dock to be one of the eleven most endangered historic places in the country. In recent years, a proposal to rezone parts of the historic waterfront area for further development was met with deep concern by those who instead favor preserving the historic character of the Annapolis City Dock. Currently, the City of Annapolis, as well as the non-profit organization Historic Annapolis, and the City Dock Action Committee are working alongside of other stakeholders towards a preservation-based approach that will adequately address rising sea levels associated with climate change, while preparing the City Dock for such twenty-first century concerns.

The Annapolis City Dock is part of a bustling waterfront area that became known as the "historic heart of Annapolis" following the designation of downtown Annapolis as a National Historic District in 1965. Established as early as 1634, by the end of the seventeenth century it served as an important port within the Chesapeake Bay region for commercial shipping and trade. The wharf area expanded in conjunction with the growth of industry in the eighteenth century, followed by rapid urban industrialization in the nineteenth century particularly at the end of the Civil War. This pattern of growth and expansion continued into the first decades of the twentieth century, and Annapolis City Dock still remains part of an essential commercial area today. With quaint shops and restaurants lining the waterfront, it is also a popular tourist destination.

City Dock

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial includes a life-size bronze statue of Alex Haley reading his novel to three young listeners. All around him a various plaques that honor his ancestor, Kunta Kinte. The memorial was designed by Ed Dwight, a noted historian and sculptor who has constructed a number of fine art sculptures and large-scale memorials. The complex that holds the memorial was designed by an architect named Gary Schwerzler. Schwerzler incorporated stone walls and other components that take advantage of the Chesapeake Bay which stands just behind the memorial. The end result is a land and water combination and lighting that illuminates the memorial at night. It all makes for an intimate and truly unique experience. The memorial has been remarked for its historical as well as its artistic significance. It’s historical importance cannot be understated because while it stands as a monument to Kunta Kinte and the odds he overcame, it tells the story of all slaves like him. This fact isn’t lost on the creators of the memorial who have included information kiosks in addition to the numerous plaques to provide visitors and passersby with a few facts on the history of slavery. The struggle to erect the memorial is a remarkable one. Shortly after it was dedicated in the winter of 1981, the plaque was stolen, allegedly by the Klu Klux Clan. The series of events that followed made international headlines and although the original was never recovered, donations poured in from all over the nation to fund a new memorial. It wasn’t until 2002, however, that the current Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial was presented. It stands as a fitting tribute to the struggles of Kunta Kinte and slaves like him who were uprooted from their homes and brought to the New World in chains. The memorial is one of the most visited destinations in the city of Annapolis drawing in an estimated one million visitors annually.

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis commemorates the place of arrival of esteemed author Alex Haley’s ancestor, Kunta Kinte. The memorial includes plaques that line the sidewalks for visitors to interact with and stands as the only memorial in the United States that commemorates the point of arrival of an enslaved African. The memorial was commissioned by the mayor of Annapolis, Richard Hillman in 1981. This occurred shortly after Haley’s critically acclaimed novel, Roots opened the eyes of people around the world to the role the city of Annapolis played in the story of the slave trade. 

Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial 

This brick building was constructed in 1790 by a German immigrant, Frederick Grammar, following the fire that destroyed much of the commercial waterfront area. Another immigrant, Lewis Neth, moved his shop into this building and in 1798, a small brick kitchen was built behind the shop. In the nineteenth century, a portion of the property was converted from commercial to residential use. The building was subsequently purchased by a Lithuanian immigrant named Moses Rolnick in 1908, and then by Russian immigrants Louis and Pauline Bloom.During the 1950s, the City of Annapolis ordered the demolition of the property after a structural wall collapsed. In response, a group of preservationists incorporated as the organization Historic Annapolis, which worked to preserve and finance the adaptive reuse of this property. Their efforts helped to jump-start the preservation of other buildings along the waterfront area. Thereafter, the building housed various commercial tenants, such as the Sports &amp; Specialties Shop in the 1960s, and the Sign o' the Whale Gift Shop in the 1970s.By the twenty-first century, the property was again ready for another upgrade. While preserving the historic brick exterior, the organization Historic Annapolis transformed the property into the site of a new education center and museum where people could learn about the history of the city, including its busy commercial and industrial waterfront area. The Museum of Historic Annapolis includes a permanent exhibit called "Annapolis: An American Story," as well as hosting temporary exhibits and events that are open to the visiting public throughout the year.

Located in a historic 18th-century structure, the Museum of Historic Annapolis offers a variety of exhibits near the waterfront at Annapolis Harbor. After a fire broke out in 1790, destroying many of the waterfront buildings, German immigrant Frederick Grammar built a new brick building at this location. Originally constructed as a commercial property and later known as the Sign o' the Whale Building, this brick structure became a private residence during the nineteenth century. In the 1950s, the condition of the againg building had deteriorated, and the City of Annapolis ordered the property to be demolished. In response, preservationists from Historic Annapolis spread awareness of the building's historic value and raised funds that allowed them to purchase the property and finance its restoration for adaptive reuse. The property housed the Sports &amp; Specialities Shop in the 1960s, followed by the Sign o' the Whale gift shop in the 1970s. The preservation of the property helped to initiate the restoration of the entire Annapolis waterfront area. In the early 2000s, the building was again repurposed and became the site of a local history museum operated by Historic Annapolis. The museum features a permanent exhibit titled, "Annapolis: An American Story."

Museum of Historic Annapolis

The Maynard-Burgess House is particularly remarkable in that it offers insight into the lives of African-Americans in the years preceding and following the Civil War. The story of its first occupants is even more remarkable. The house was purchased by a free-born African American named John Maynard. He worked as a waiter for a living and purchased the land for $400. He bought his wife and other relatives out of slavery and ran a boarding house of sorts until 1915 when one of his African-American tenants, Willis Burgess purchased it at auction. The house, as noted in the opening paragraph, remained in the Burgess family until 1990. All together, that is 150 years of African-American history that preservationists and archaeologists are eager to preserve and study. To date, a number of African-American artifacts have been uncovered during archaeological studies of the house. These include stoneware, tools and a number of other items which are all exhibited at the Mount Olive AME Church in Annapolis. They will be returned once the $300,000 renovation efforts are concluded by the city. The unique history contained within those walls is a point of interest for many as are the ways in which the Maynard family managed to survive and remain inconspicuous amid slavery and racism. Several findings are detailed in greater detail in books I have included below. They delve into the family’s surrounding and how they must have had to deal with artificially high prices imposed by white grocers. It also looks into the ways the family went about circumventing high prices and poor quality goods. Despite its near-ruinous condition, the Maynard-Burgess House has survived as an important architectural and historical landmark. Though many of the significant portions of the house’s history have been unearthed by the dedicated individuals tasked with studying it, it is entirely likely that many of the complexities of its construction and its tenants have been lost to history. Still, it stands as a significant contributor to the Annapolis Historic District and is a home where an African-American family, against all odds, was able to thrive amidst slavery.

The Maynard-Burgess House is a historical site that stands as a symbol of African-American heritage. It also stands as a testament to the pride and the resilience of its occupants, an African-American family that lived free long before the Civil War. The home is believed to have been built in the early part of the 19th century and was home to several generations of two Black families until 1990. The home fell into disrepair and is currently the property of the city of Annapolis which has appointed a team of historic preservationists to restore the home and save this landmark location from utter dilapidation. The hope is that once restorations are complete, the home will serve as a museum, one that contributes immensely to the understanding of the history and architecture of the city of Annapolis. 

Maynard-Burgess House

The historic Annapolis Emergency Hospital Building is a three-story brick structure flanked by two-story wings on either side. Founded in 1902, the hospital originally purchased the home of the former mayor, Edwin Seidewitz, at this location, for use as an emergency medical care facility. The same location is also thought to have previously served for medical purposes when it was occupied by another former resident of the city, the Revolutionary War-era physician, Richard Tootell.In the early twentieth century, the hospital needed a modern and updated building. Hence, planning for a new facility at this location began in 1906. By the end of 1910, the updated Annapolis Emergency Hospital opened to patients. It included operating rooms, three six-bed wards, nine private rooms, and a small children's ward. Construction was supported by funding from civic groups and the state legislature, as well as from private donors. Thereafter, the hospital continued to provide emergency services for almost a century. Following a major fire in 1927, the entire structure was rebuilt.In the twenty-first century, the building now houses the Anne Arundel Medical Center, which offers a range of services and treatments beyond emergency medical care. There is a large historical marker on the facade of the building. The non-profit organization, Historic Annapolis, has also placed a sign to the left of the entrance, stating that this historic building is part of the Annapolis Historic District.

This three-story brick building was planned and constructed between 1906 and 1910 to serve as the site of the Annapolis Emergency Hospital, which was founded in 1902. For nearly a century, medical care continued to be provided at this location. The site is now part of the Anne Arundel Medical Center, which provides a range of services apart from emergency medical care. A historical marker was placed on the exterior of the building by the organization Historic Annapolis. There is also a sign to the left of the entrance noting that the historic building is part of the Annapolis Historic District.

Annapolis Emergency Hospital Building (1910)

The Banneker-Douglass Museum portrays life during the harsh
times when slavery prevailed; highlighting two very famous advocates, Benjamin
Banneker and Frederick Douglass. Benjamin Banneker was born a free African
American on a tobacco farm in Baltimore County, Maryland. He is known as the
first African American of science and mathematics. Recognized as astoundingly
intelligent, growing up he mostly taught himself everything that he came to
know about science, astronomy, and mathematics; soon after, he published
several almanacs. In addition to the almanacs, Banneker is also known for being
an anti-slavery advocate. “In a bold 1791 letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker
compared the righteous fight for freedom by the Colonists to the plight of the
enslaved person in America. Since Jefferson’s response seemed to acknowledge
Banneker’s reasoning, he wisely published their correspondence in one of his
almanacs.” A man with many talents and a strong mind, he was a strong-willed
man seeking justice for all. 

Like Banneker, Douglass was also very well known for his
support of anti-slavery. Frederick Douglass was from Talbot County, Maryland. However,
unlike Banneker, he had to escape slavery, which he did in 1838. “Frederick
Douglass was the first African American to gain international prominence as a
social crusader. With his commanding presence, Douglass was a tireless advocate
for the anti-slavery movement and also supported the woman’s suffrage campaign.”
Douglass’ passion and desire for peace and justice translated to his speaking
skills as he joined the American Anti-Slavery Society as a represented speaker.


The Banneker-Douglas Museum features many exhibits
incorporating Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass for their honorable
aspirations to end slavery. In addition to their achievements, the works of
Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Thurgood Marshall can also be found in the
museum’s displays. This historical museum represents the hardships, triumphs,
and foreshadowing that developed our nation’s history and heritage.&nbsp;

The Banneker-Douglass Museum, formerly known as the Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church, was originally built in 1875 and then renovated and officially completed on February 24, 1984. “The Victorian-Gothic structure was included in the Annapolis Historic District in 1971 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.” The museum just celebrated 30 years of operation back in February of this year; it is a must-see museum filled with historical and prestigious displays. In honor of Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, the museum also exhibits the lives of other famous Maryland residents who devoted their time to the advocacy of anti-slavery and racism.

Banneker-Douglass Museum

Following the response of white Virginians to Nat Turner's Rebellion in 1831, the church closed its doors in
1832. The congregation later joined with First Methodist Episcopal Church in 1838. In&nbsp; that year, the congregation contracted with Charles Shorter to build this structure-an imposing&nbsp;three-story building which still stands
today. Shorts also
became the first superintendent of Sunday school for the church. The congregation recently remodeled the sanctuary and believes to have discovered some of the original wood interior that dates back to 1838. A room located on the third floor of the current church
holds artifacts and documents that date back to the mid-19th century.&nbsp;

Asbury United Methodist dates back to 1803, when seven free African Americans purchased land from Smith Price. This group attracted other people of faith who worshiped in a small wooden building until, 1838 when the congregation built their first brick church. That modest structure was later was replaced with a three-story brick church in 1880’s. The historic church is working to create a small museum to include exhibits of significant artifacts, documents, and photographs. 

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Annapolis

Once a private home, this Federal era building was built in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. It is uniquely situated at an asymmetrical intersection near the original "Town Gates" in Annapolis. The home's first known owner was Vachel Seviere (also known as Vachel Stevens). Considered to be a "jack of all trades," Seviere worked as a land surveyor, an inn keeper, and an iron worker, among other professions. He acquired the property in 1832. The house was built at the intersection of Sobieski Street with Calvert Street, Cathedral Street, and West Street. Upon the completion of the building's construction, Sobieski Street disappeared altogether. Only a short cobblestone alley, which runs along the west side of the building, still remains. This alley is considered the only undisturbed example of original cobblestone paving in all of Annapolis. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the home was converted into a commercial retail space. During the following decades, the property was extensively altered to suit this commercial usage. However, by the 1970s, the House by the "Town Gates" caught the attention of historic preservationists. The building became part of an urban renewal project, which was aimed at restoring the property to its original appearance, at least as much as possible, while allowing it to remain in use commercially. In June 1973, the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The House by the "Town Gates" is a two and a half story Federal style historic home, which was built circa 1830. Initially constructed as a private home, the first floor windows on the northern facade were replaced by storefront windows in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Thereafter, the building has housed many different commercial tenants on the ground level. Although the original brickwork is covered by multiple layers of paint, it remains partly visible on the northwestern corner. A small cobblestone alley on the building's west side is also visible. It is the only remaining example of an undisturbed cobblestone alley in the City of Annapolis. The House by the "Town Gates" was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1973.

The House by the "Town Gates"

Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991, and he was also its first African American justice. Marshall is a native of Maryland and attended Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore. He then studied law at Howard University, after which he moved to New York and served as chief counsel for the NAACP. In 1954, he argued against segregation in schools in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education. Marshall’s record before his nomination to the United States Supreme Court in 1967 included winning 14 of the 19 cases he argued before the Supreme Court as the U.S. solicitor general.A year after Marshall passed away and exactly 40 years after the Supreme Court’s decision, Governor Glendening signed an Executive Order establishing a commission to install a statue to commemorate the life and works of Thurgood Marshall. Upon completion of the project, the Commission on Artistic Property took over and is currently responsible for the preservation and conservation of the sculpture. The sculpture’s dedication was attended by Justice Marshall’s wife, Cecilia, and other members of his immediate family.The 8-foot statue depicts Thurgood Marshall as a young lawyer with pillars behind him that read “Equal Justice Under Law”. In front of the statue are two benches. Seated at one of the benches are two children who represent Marshall’s most important case, Brown v. Board of Education. On the other bench seats Donald Murray, who was denied admittance into the University of Maryland’s Law School. His case marked Marshall’s first important victory in his struggle for school integration that would culminate in the above-mentioned Brown v. Board of Education case. Interestingly, the spot on which the statue is situated is precisely where the Court of Appeals stood in 1935 when Marshall represented Murray in the Murray v. Pearson court case.

This statue of Thurgood Marshall by Maryland sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez was erected in 1996 by the state of Maryland after being commissioned by Governor Parris Glendening. Mendez was one of several artists who participated in a national design competition, and the statue he crafted stands as a tribute to the civil rights leader and jurist who was one of the 20th century’s most noted advocates for equal rights under the law. The statue is located in State House Square, which commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Within the square is a chronology of some of the important events in Marshall’s career.

Thurgood Marshall Memorial Statue 

A charter for "Maryland Colony" was given to Cecelius Calvert by 2nd Baron Baltimore on June 20, 1632. Maryland was named after Queen Henrieta Maria, wife of King Charles I. Marylands original capital from its founding was St Mary's City, however, in 1695, the capital was moved to Annapolis. The first Capitol in Annapolis burned down in a fire in 1704, and the second was razed due to the small capacity for an expanding state government. The new State Capitol started construction with a cornerstone laying by Governor Robert Eden on March 28, 1772. Construction was delayed by a hurricane and by the Revolutionary War and was not completely finished even by 1779. When the Continental Congress met in late 1783, parts of the roof and dome leaked, however, the dome was demolished and reconstructed from 1785 to 1789. The dome has no nails and is instead held together by wooden pegs and iron straps. The State House was named a National Historic Landmark in December 1960 due to its historic significance following the Revolutionary War and its architectural style, especially in the dome and cupola.

The Maryland State House is located in Annapolis and is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, dating to 1779. The State House was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson, and construction began in 1772, however, it was delayed due to the American Revolution. The cupola on top of the building was constructed in replacement for the earlier one in 1794. After the American Revolution, Annapolis was the first peacetime Capitol of the United States. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. On January 14, 1784, the 1783 Treaty of Paris was ratified in Annapolis, bringing an official end to the Revolutionary War. A 1902-1905 addition by Baldwin and Pennington added new chambers for the Senate and House of Delegates. 

Maryland State House

Roger Brooke Taney Born on a Maryland plantation in 1777, Roger Taney attended Dickinson College and then returned to Maryland to study law. In 1816, he was elected to the Maryland State Senate, and in 1827, he became the State Attorney General. He cultivated a relationship with General (then President) Andrew Jackson, who appointed him&nbsp;Secretary of the Treasury in 1833, and two years later nominated him to the US Supreme Court. Taney was confirmed in 1836. Today, he remains most remembered for his role in the&nbsp;Dred Scott vs. Sandford case in the 1850s. Dred and Harriet Scott Born into slavery in the 1790s, Dred Scott first lived in Virginia with Peter Blow, who&nbsp;then sold him&nbsp;in Missouri to an army surgeon, John Emerson. While with Emerson, Scott traveled to the Illinois and Wisconsin, where slavery had been forbidden by the 1820 Missouri Compromise. In 1842, Dred moved back to St. Louis, Missouri. Following John Emerson's death, his widow hired out Dred, his wife Harriet, and their children to work for other families. In 1846, Dred and Harriet sued for their freedom, arguing that their years of residency in free soil meant that they were free. A Missouri court agreed with the Scotts and granted them freedom in 1850, but Mrs. Emerson appealed, and the Missouri Supreme Court overruled this decision. Eventually, the case made its way up to the US Supreme Court. In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against Scott, affirming that he was a slave and therefore&nbsp;had no right even to sue in federal court. Furthermore, the Court ruled the Missouri Compromise (outlawing slavery in northern territories)&nbsp;unconstitutional, on the grounds that it failed to comply with the Fifth Amendment: property (including slaves) should not be unlawfully seized. Chief Justice Roger Taney composed the majority opinion of the court.&nbsp; Excerpts from Roger Taney's Opinion The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the political community formed and brought into existence by the Constitution of the United States, and as such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, and immunities, guarantied by that instrument to the citizen? One of which rights is the privilege of suing in a court of the United States in the cases specified in the Constitution. [...] In the opinion of the court, the legislation and histories of the times, and the language used in the Declaration of Independence, show, that neither the class of persons who had been imported as slaves, nor their descendants, whether they had become free or not, were then acknowledged as a part of the people, nor intended to be included in the general words used in that memorable instrument. It is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in relation to that unfortunate race, which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and when the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted. But the public history of every European nation displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken. They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold, and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever a profit could be made by it. This opinion was at that time fixed and universal in the civilized portion of the white race. It was regarded as an axiom in morals as well as in politics, which no one thought of disputing, or supposed to be open to dispute; and men in every grade and position in society daily and habitually acted upon it in their private pursuits, as well as in matters of public concern, without doubting for a moment the correctness of this opinion. [...] And upon a full and careful consideration of the subject, the court is of opinion, that, upon the facts stated in the plea in abatement, Dred Scott was not a citizen of Missouri within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States, and not entitled as such to sue in its courts; and, consequently, that the Circuit Court had no jurisdiction of the case, and that the judgment on the plea in abatement is erroneous. Upon these considerations, it is the opinion of the court that the act of Congress which prohibited a citizen from holding and owning property of this kind in the territory of the United States north of the line therein mentioned, is not warranted by the Constitution, and is therefore void; and that neither Dred Scott himself, nor any of his family, were made free by being carried into this territory; even if they had been carried there by the owner, with the intention of becoming a permanent resident.&nbsp;["Chief Justice Taney," American History]. Consequences of Dred Scott v. Sandford This case had far-reaching effects, as numerous politicians and American citizens reacted with alarm to the Supreme Court ruling. The Republican Party in particular, established in 1854 to curb slavery's expansion, fought back. In 1860, Republican politician Abraham Lincoln was elected to the US presidency, prompting the secession of multiple southern states and the Civil War.&nbsp;Roger Taney and his fellow Supreme Court justices may have been hoping to provide permanent answers to the controversies surrounding slavery, but instead, they provoked a fierce backlash.&nbsp; Fate of the Taney Monument This statue of Taney was unveiled in 1872 and remained in place at the Maryland State House in Annapolis until 2017. In the decades prior to its removal, state officials debated how best to handle the presence of the controversial statue. Some earlier solutions included adding explanatory plaques to contextualize Taney's career and constructing a monument to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice to serve on the Supreme Court. While Maryland Governor Larry Hogan initially believed the Taney monument should stay, he changed his position in August 2017, following the violent white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia. Soon afterward, members of the&nbsp;State House Trust Board voted to remove Taney's statue.

Located at the courtyard of the Maryland State House from 1872 until 2017 the Roger Taney Monument commemorated Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney. A controversial figure in American history, Taney is best known for authoring the majority opinion on Dred Scott vs. Sandford (1857), known as the Dred Scott decision--asserting that Black people, whether slave or free, could not be United States citizens. Taney also claimed that the Missouri Compromise, which restricted the expansion of slavery, was unconstitutional because in his opinion, it violated the property rights of slave owners to take the human beings they owned under the system of chattel slavery into northern states the same as they might any other piece of property. The statue of Taney was removed in August 2017. According to Maryland governor Larry Hogan's statement, "the time has come to make clear the difference between properly acknowledging our past and glorifying the darkest chapters of our history."

Roger Taney Monument (1872-2017)

The Historic Inns of Annapolis, part of the Colonial Annapolis Historic District, is comprised of three historic hotels: the Maryland Inn, Governor Calvert House, and Robert Johnson House. Each of these historic buildings has a unique character and tells a fascinating story of early American history. When George Washington resigned as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in December 1783 and the Treaty of Paris was awaiting ratification, delegates to the Congress of Confederation lodged at the inns. At this time, Annapolis was serving as the first peacetime capital.The Maryland Inn dates to 1772 when Thomas Hyde, a merchant and civic leader, obtained a lease on State Circle and had a portion of the Maryland Inn built. With Hyde in charge, the inn became a favorite destination for those visiting Annapolis, especially for national political figures serving in the Congress of the Confederation. Throughout the 19th century, the inn remained popular, and it was acquired by the Maryland Hotel Company in 1868. By World War I, the facilities were out of date and many of the rooms became offices and apartments. In the early 1950s, new owners took over and restored the colonial inn. Two decades later, real estate developer Paul Pearson purchased the Maryland Inn and made it one of the top holiday destinations in Annapolis. He also added the King of France Tavern, which became a top venue for jazz performances.The Governor Calvert House began as a one-and-a-half-story building with a prominent gambrel roof. Charles Calvert, the first to reside in the house, was the Governor of Maryland from 1720 to 1727. After most of the structure was destroyed by a fire in 1764, the Calvert family moved from the area. A two-story Gregorian-style building was built from the remains and it was used by the state as barracks. In the 1850s, Annapolis’s mayor, Abram Claude, purchased the building to serve as his residence and added Victorian features. The house remained a private residence until the 1970s when Paul Pearson purchased it and made it into a boutique hotel, along with the Robert Johnson House and Maryland Inn. While working with Historic Annapolis, archeological research found features from the original structure, notably a greenhouse heating system in the basement.The Robert Johnson House was constructed around 1773, a year after Robert Johnson, a local barber, purchased the lot. It served as a residence for the family until the 1850s when new owners moved in. William H. Belis purchased the house in 1880, and after his death, his daughter, Maud Marrow, inherited it. She also obtained two other nearby buildings on School Street and formed Marrow Apartments. The Robert Johnson House remained the Marrow Apartments until Paul Pearson purchased it, conducted renovations, and turned it into a boutique hotel.The Historic Inns of Annapolis now maintain these three historic structures, and they offer high-quality hospitality to the thousands of guests who pass through their doors annually. The historic sites also serve as prime venues for weddings, corporate events, and other functions. The Historic Inns of Annapolis became a member of the Historic Hotels of America in 1996 and is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Historic Inns of Annapolis is comprised of three 18th century inns in the downtown area, The Maryland Inn, Governor Calvert House, and Robert Johnson House. The oldest building, the Governor Calvert House, dates back to 1695 and is located across the street from the Maryland State House. These restored and historic boutique hotels are within walking distance of prime Chesapeake Bay attractions and offer visitors a glimpse of early American history while adding modern conveniences. The charming hotels serve as sites for weddings, banquets, and corporate functions. The Historic Inns of Annapolis is a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

Historic Inns of Annapolis 

Managed by the non-profit organization Historic Annapolis, Hogshead is a living history museum based in a modest wood-frame building. The property was once used as a dwelling place for an artisan or craftsman and his family. Although the gambrel-roofed structure is believed to have been constructed in the early nineteenth century, it reflects a style of architecture that was also commonly used during the Revolutionary period in the eighteenth century. During that era, this type of property would have been used as rental housing for tenants or as a barracks providing temporary housing for military recruits.Although the building initially served as private housing, by the 1960s, it had endured a period of neglect and deterioration. After the property was identified as being in need of restoration, it became part of a joint historic preservation project undertaken by the State of Maryland and the non-profit organization, Historic Annapolis. A partial grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helped to finance the cost of the restoration.During the restoration, much of the original timber framing was retained, but the building's exterior siding and roof covering were replaced. An interior staircase was strengthened, leading up to the second floor. On the second floor, the original flooring, walls, and trim were restored. The cellar, which had previously been filled-in, was also restored, revealing a brick floor, a large hearth for cooking, and a beehive oven for baking.Today, Historic Annapolis provides tours of the property, which is opened to the public as a living history museum. Costumed interpreters in period attire share details about everyday life in colonial times. By offering a window into the family life of an artisan or craftsman in early Annapolis, the tours are an interactive and hands-on experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. The name of the property, "Hogshead," is a reference to the prior use of such structures as temporary housing for rental tenants or recruits, similar to the temporary storage of goods during transit in wooden "hogshead" barrels.

Constructed in the early 19th century, this simple, wood-frame dwelling with a gambrel roof is notable for being one of the few remaining examples in Annapolis of a style of home that was once common throughout the area. This type of modest row housing was common during the Revolutionary period and the early nineteenth century. During the Revolutionary War, for instance, the new state government converted buildings that looked much like this one from their primary use as inexpensive rental housing into military barracks for new recruits. The nickname "Hogshead" derived from this use as temporary housing, similar to the storage of goods during transit in a type of wooden barrel called a "hogshead." Today, the building is open to the public as a living history museum. Interpreters are dressed in period attire, and they provide information about what life was like in colonial times, while also highlighting the site as the everyday home of an artisan or craftsman. The property is managed by the organization Historic Annapolis.

Hogshead (Artisan's House)

The City of Annapolis was first laid out on a grid plan in a style of urban planning that was already popular in Europe. The location for the State House was selected by identifying the highest and most commanding position within the city, which overlooked the harbor. A large, public circle (528 feet in diameter) was then designed and constructed for the location of the State House, along with a nearby smaller circle (340 feet in diameter), where a church was built. A major focal point in what eventually became the Annapolis Historic District, the Maryland State House is an eighteenth-century brick edifice with a wooden dome in the shape of a polygon. Located on State Circle, the State House is also a National Historic Landmark in its own right.Extending outward from the State Circle and the Church Circle, a radial system of public streets was planned and constructed. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the City of Annapolis grew slowly during the years after its founding in 1649. This was due in part to the small size of the harbor, which initially limited the growth and development of commerce. By the time of the American Revolution, however, the City of Annapolis had become a prominent area for culture and politics, with the steady increase of commerce.On a national level, the City of Annapolis gained attention while serving as the nation's capital between 1783 and 1784. The Continental Congress met at the State House to ratify the Treaty of Paris (signed in Paris in 1783 and ratified in Annapolis in 1784), marking the conclusion of the Revolutionary War between the U.S. and Britain. In addition, the State House was the location where George Washington resigned as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. In 1786, the State House served as the location for the Annapolis Convention, which resulted in the Constitutional Convention being held in Philadelphia the following year. Also noteworthy, four signatories to the Declaration of Independence were residents of Annapolis (William Paca, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll, and Thomas Stone). Their historic homes have each been preserved for visitation by the public. The William Paca House &amp; Garden is located close to the State House in the historic district.When Baltimore became Maryland's first official Port of Entry in 1789, the City of Annapolis began to decline in relative importance. Nevertheless, Annapolis continued to serve as the state capital of Maryland throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The founding of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1845 once again boosted the national profile of the city. The Naval Academy is located along the eastern boundary of the Annapolis Historic District, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark district in 1966. This historic district includes a range of architectural styles spanning over two and a half centuries, from the Colonial period to the early twentieth century. For instance, the Shiplap House was built around 1715 to serve as a tavern, and it is one of the oldest surviving properties in the historic district.

The Annapolis Historic Landmark District includes the oldest part of the City of Annapolis, founded in 1649, around which the commercial, industrial, and residential areas developed and expanded from the mid-seventeenth century through the beginning of the twentieth century. Designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1965, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places the following year. In 1984, the Annapolis Historic District was further expanded geographically. The architectural styles reflected within this district include Colonial, Early Republic, Georgian, and Victorian, among others. As noted on the nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places, the Annapolis Historic District is also referred to as the Colonial Annapolis Historic District, although the architecture represented includes a range of design styles from different eras.

Annapolis Historic District

The house was the headquarters of the International Masonry Institute before the state acquired the property in 2014 for the sum of $2.5 million.&nbsp;

This home was constructed by free and enslaved laborers for James Brice starting in 1767. Brice became the mayor of Annapolis in the 1780s and later served on Maryland's Executive Council which led to him serving as the acting Governor of Maryland in 1792. Brice's father, a colonial-era judge, designed the home. The home stayed in the family for over a century and then passed to organizations such as St. John’s College. The state acquired the structure in 2014 and it is currently operated as the headquarters of Historic Annapolis. 

Brice House

William Paca was born on October 31, 1740 in Hartford County, Maryland. He studied law at the College of Philadelphia and graduated in 1759 with a master's degree. He completed his legal training in London and was admitted into the Maryland bar in 1764. He married Mary Chew, the daughter of a wealthy Delaware physician Samuel Chew a year earlier. They had three children but sadly only one, John Philemon, survived to adulthood. Paca became a prominent Maryland political figure and served in a number of positions including in the state legislature from 1768-1774, in the provincial conventions from 1775-1776, and in the state senate from 1777-1779. Between 1774-1779 he was a delegate to the Continental Congress (where he signed the Declaration of Independence). He also served as a chief judge in the general court of Maryland form 1778-1780. He then became Governor in 1782 and served for a one-year term. He was later a delegate to the Maryland convention, which ratified the Constitution in 1788. His final position came in 1789, when George Washington appointed him as federal district judge for Maryland. Paca remained in that position until 1799 and shortly passed away in October of that year.As for the house, Paca sold it in 1780 and remained in private ownership until 1965, when Historic Annapolis bought it to save it from demolition. The house became a rental property for a time and even a hotel when national tennis champion William Larned purchased it in 1901. He named it Carvel Hall and for a long time was Annapolis' best hotel. One employee, an African American man named Marcellus Hall, became a well-known and well-respected staff member thanks to his professionalism and hospitality. He began working as a bellboy then worked his way up to Superintendent of Services. He remained at the hotel until it closed in 1965.  The state proceeded to restore the historic old house, employing the skills of various professionals including carpenters and architectural historians.

Built in the early 1760s, the William Paca house was home to the third governor of Maryland. William Paca was one of four Maryland colonists who signed the Declaration of Independence. The Historic Annapolis Foundation restored the mansion in the 1960s and offers guided tours of the home and its garden. Visitors to the house can view historic artwork and furnishings, and enjoy a number of interpretive exhibits that offer a rare glimpse into the late colonial period and early statehood.

William Paca House

<div>Samuel Chase, a lawyer, started to build his house when he was twenty five years old. He started construction in the year 1769. Chase wanted to "out do" his neighbors by making his house the&nbsp; best in the neighborhood. However, by trying to accomplish this he ran out of money. Chase had to sale his mansion to the wealthy, Edward Lloyd IV. Lloyd was a successful plantation owner, whom wanted to move to Annapolis to start a career in politics. &nbsp;</div><div> The home wasn't complete until 1771. The mansion was Georgian style, complete with the house being three stories.&nbsp; Lloyd hired, William Buckland, for the interior design of the mansion. Buckland was a famous architect at the time. The home included a Palladian window, false doors, plaster ceilings, grand staircase, and decorative moldings. All of these elements were important for the Georgian style. It was one of the last houses to be built like this in Annapolis. &nbsp;</div><div> Eventually, Lloyd served the Maryland House of Delegates and U.S House of Representatives. He became the governor of Maryland in 1809 ,until 1811. After that, in 1812 he decided to join the war. Afterwards he became served in the U.S Senate and Maryland Senate. In 1826, he sold the Chase-Lloyd house to his brother in law, Henry Hall Harwood.&nbsp; Lloyd died in 1834. The year 1846 comes around and Harwood sales the mansion to Hester Anne Chase. Hester Anne Chase, was a distant cousin to Samuel Chase. Hester was the richest woman in Annapolis and lived in the house with her three orphan nieces.&nbsp; She was an investor in the Annapolis Gas Light Company and&nbsp; a member of Annapolis Water Company. When Hester passed, she left the house to her niece, Hester Anne Chase Ridout. Ridout decided to turn the mansion into a home for elderly women. &nbsp;</div>

Three-story brick Georgian mansion dating from 1769-1774. ts construction was started for Samuel Chase, who would later be a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. However, later, Chase would sale the building unfinished to Edward Lloyd IV in 1771.

Chase-Lloyd House

The U.S. Naval Academy's museum dates back to 1845 when it was founded as the Naval School Lyceum. The Lyceum was first located in a room above the mess hall, but it was relocated into a former chapel following the Civil War. The Lyceum's collections grew significantly throughout the 19th century, especially with the transfer of collections from the Naval Lyceum at the New York Navy Yard in 1892. In 1922, the museum also acquired the Boston Naval Library's collection. Two years prior, Assistant Secretary of the Navy and future American president Franklin D. Roosevelt called on the Academy to dedicate space for a separate museum. The Naval Academy first provided space in Bancroft Hall before creating the current building in 1939. This facility was expanded in 1962 and in 1970, after which the building was named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble. The museum welcomes around 100,000 visitors each year. Visitors begin their tour on the first deck, which allows them to follow the history of the United States Navy from the American Revolution and includes the history of the Academy. A highlight of the first deck is a flag from the Battle of Lake Erie made famous by Commodore Perry's exhortation “Don’t Give Up the Ship."The second desk begins with an orientation video and models of famous ships from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The second desk is also where the Beverley R. Robinson Collection is located. This exceptional collection of prints includes images of famous vessels from the colonial era to the modern era. The ground level includes the gift shop and historic preservation laboratory where visitors can talk with museum employees about the preservation process and the challenges of museum interpretation.

This museum dates back to 1845 and is operated by the U.S Naval Academy to preserve and share the history of the Academy with the public. The museum includes exhibits on three levels that guide visitors through a chronological tour of the Academy's history. These exhibits also include special thematic displays that explore topics that reflect the larger history of the US Navy and important themes in American history. In addition to these exhibits, the Naval Academy Museum maintains models of historic vessels and displays dedicated to various deployments and wars.

US Naval Academy Museum 

The Tripoli Monument honors American seaman and marines who participated in the First Barbary War which saw the first effort of the United States to exert influence in North Africa. American forces responded to pirates operating from Tripolitania and Morocco, but in the end, President Jefferson decided to compromise with local leaders rather than using force of arms.The Tripoli Monument is made of Carrara marble and sandstone and was the first monument at the nation's capitol of Washington D.C. In fact, for thirty-five years, this was the only monument in the District of Columbia and it withstood the War of 1812.The Tripoli Monument was brought to the U.S. on the USS Constitution from Italy and erected in honor of Captain Richard Somers, Lieutenant James Caldwell, James Decatur, Henry Wadsworth, Joseph Israel, and John Dorsey who perished in the campaign at Tripoli.The conflict's origins are complex, but the turning point occurred in October of 1800 when Tripolitan pirates took control of the American vessel Catherine. After some deliberation between the pirates and the captain of the ship, they decided they would ask president Jefferson for ransom money and gave him six months to reply or they would declare war on the U.S. Jefferson sent a letter to Pasha Karamanli (Tripolitan pirate leader) stating he was sending a squadron of ships into the Mediterranean for observation. Jefferson initially decided not to pay the ransom.In 1803, Tripolitan pirates captured the Philadelphia intact after it ran aground on a coral reef as it patrolled one of Tripoli’s main harbors. William Bainbridge, all officers, and the crew were taken as hostages and held on the mainland. The Philadelphia ended up being used against American ships when it was anchored and used as a gun battery. After a myriad of blockades and raids, and under threat of continued bombardments, as well as a plan to restore his deposed brother to the throne Yusuf Karamanli signed a treaty. The treaty stated that All Americans held by the Tripolitans will be released as well as all Tripolitans captured shall be released and a sum of $60000 would be paid for the American prisoners.

Located on the United States Naval Academy campus, this monument commemorates the servicemembers who participated in the First Barbary Wars. The Tripoli Monument was carved in 1806 in Italy before being brought to the Washington Navy Yard in 1808 and moved to the US Capitol building in 1831. In 1860, the monument was moved to the United States Naval Academy. The First Barbary War was fought off the Mediterranean coast of Tripoli between 1801-1805 in response to pirates from the Barbary States who seized American merchant vessels and held crew members for ransom. President Thomas Jefferson initially refused to pay the ransom to the pirates. Instead, he sent American forces to the region in an ambitious plan to reshape control of the region.

Annapolis Walking Tour

1941 Harvard-Navy Lacrosse Game

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information