Maryland State House, Annapolis (must see)

The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol building in the United States that has been in continuous legislative use. Construction began in 1772, when Maryland leaders decided to build a permanent government center to replace earlier meeting places. The building soon became closely connected with the events of the American Revolution. Between November 1783 and August 1784 the Continental Congress met here, making the city the temporary capital of the United States during that period.

Several important national events took place inside the building. On December 23, 1783, General George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Old Senate Chamber, returning military authority to civilian government. The Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain, was ratified here in January 1784.

The building is known for its large wooden dome, completed in 1794 and built without nails. It is the largest wooden dome of its kind in the United States. The architecture reflects late colonial and early American design, with brick walls and balanced proportions. Later wings were added in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to provide more space for offices and meeting rooms.

Visitors can enter several historic rooms that preserve the atmosphere of the late eighteenth century. The Old Senate Chamber, where Washington resigned his command, has been carefully restored with period furnishings and decorations. Nearby rooms display portraits, historical documents, and information about the building’s role in the development of American government. Guided tours help explain how the legislature still meets here today, connecting the historic structure with its continuing role in public life.