Everything about The Maryland State House totally explained
The
Maryland State House is the
state capitol of
Maryland, and is located in
Annapolis. It houses the
Maryland General Assembly and is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, dating to 1772. It also has the distinction of being topped by the largest
wooden
dome built without
nails in the nation. The current building, which was designated a
National Historic Landmark in
1968, is the third statehouse to stand on the site. The building is administered by the
State House Trust, which was created in 1969.
United States Capital
From November 26, 1783 to June 3, 1784, Annapolis served as the United States capital. The
Congress of the Confederation (United States in Congress Assembled) met in the Maryland State House, and Annapolis was a candidate to become the new permanent national capital before
Washington, D.C. was built.
It was in the Old Senate Chamber that
George Washington famously resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783.
It was also there that the
1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the
Revolutionary War, was ratified by Congress on January 14, 1784.
Historical event
Less well known but important is the historic event that took place in the Old Senate Chamber on February 2, 1781 when the
Governor in the presence of the members of both Houses of the State Legislature signed and sealed the "act to empower the delegates of
this state in
Congress to subscribe and ratify the
articles of confederation". The decision established the requisite unanimous consent of all thirteen states for the formation of a
Perpetual Union. In other words, this was the final step in the formation of the
United States of America as a
nation. The passing of the much awaited law also served to remove any doubt by the
British about the resolve of the states to unite during the Revolutionary War. In 1861, this fact that "the faith of all the then thirteen States was expressly plighted and engaged that [theUnion] should be perpetual" was considered of major importance by President
Abraham Lincoln when declaring illegal the secession of the
southern states from the Union.
Construction
Though construction began in 1772 the structure wasn't completed until 1779 due to the Revolutionary War. The statehouse was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson, a noted architect of the time, and the large dome is topped by a
lightning rod that was constructed and grounded to the specifications of the lightning rod's original inventor,
Benjamin Franklin. The dome of the statehouse is depicted on the Maryland
state quarter.
Photo Gallery
Image:MDSenate.jpg|Chamber of the Maryland State Senate
Image:MDHouse.jpg|Chamber of the Maryland House of Delegates
Image:Maryland quarter, reverse side, 2000.jpg|The dome of the statehouse is depicted on the Maryland state quarter.
Image:MarylandStateHouse.jpg|Maryland State House (back)
Further Information
Get more info on 'Maryland State House'.
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