Seniors, What’s the Capital of Maryland?

Do you know your state capitals, senior citizens?  I used to be able to name them all. Guess it was from the civics class in school, but I can’t do that any more. A few continue to escape my mind, like New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine. I imagine that it is because I’m originally from Iowa and that’s a long long ways from those eastern states. Couldn’t possibly be a memory issue, could it?

The US Naval Academy with a 4,000-strong brigade of midshipmen was founded in 1845. Today the population of Annapolis runs close to 40,000. The city boasts more 18th century buildings than anywhere else in the United States, including the homes of all four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. Many of these buildings are located in a thriving downtown historic district with shops and restaurants, along the waterfront.

From its earliest days as a colonial capital city, Annapolis was known as the “Athens of America.” One could find a wealth of cultural activities, a glittering social season, gracious hospitality and intellectual stimulation. The small seaport brought visitors from around the world who shared the news of the day while enjoying the ambiance and exquisite tidewater cuisine of the local pubs.

Things This Senior Learned About Annapolis While Creating This Blog

Along with the many 18th-century houses, the names of several of the streets—King George’s, Prince George’s, Hanover, and Duke of Gloucester, etc.—date from colonial days. I knew of St. John’s from their fine basketball team but I did not know that it was in Annapolis, did you? The College was founded in 1696 as King William’s School, a preparatory school. It received a collegiate charter in 1784, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States.

 Annapolis became the temporary capital of the US after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The Maryland State House is the oldest in continuous legislative use in the United States and it was in that State House that George Washington famously resigned his commission before the Continental Congress on December 23, 1783.

Lots For Seniors To Do In Annapolis

 Annapolis offers a wide variety of activities that senior visitors will find attractive. It is home to incredible boat shows. The sports enthusiasts can attend football, baseball, lacrosse and all sorts of other sports year round at the USNA. Senior visitors can attend the annual Renaissance Festival or New Years Eve Celebration with hundreds of musical, theater, dance and comedy performances in and around the city.

Annapolis has a thriving community theater scene and is world-renown as America’s Sailing Capital. Senior visitors will find fresh seafood, including those wonderful blue crabs, in fine restaurants.  About.com offers a good visitors guide to the capital of Maryland.

 I think that senior citizens will really enjoy a visit to Annapolis. jeb