I cannot believe it took me nearly a decade of living in Maryland to finally visit the State House which is the oldest legislative building in North America. It easy and free to tour almost any day and it is nice to see all the history here. They have the more modern (but still historic) current chambers as well as the original historic ones open to tour. Looking forward to coming back, hopefully with friends and family. read more

See all

Only self-guided (free) tours are available. A guided tour would have been nice to hear more details and info about the architecture. Space is limited, but perhaps they can add Maryland history beyond the Revolutionary War and snippets of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. Time estimate to look at the State House and grounds: 20-40 mins. Metered parking on street around State House. You can peek into the State Assembly and State Senate rooms, plus view a few other rooms that have been reconstructed for historical accuracy. One such room is Old Senate chamber where George Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1983. There are statues and chairs that set the scene. From 1783-1784 the U.S. Congress of Confederation was housed here, and ratified the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Revolutionary War on May 7, 1784. Just off the grounds is the Thurgood Marshall Memorial Statue, which shows Marshall as a young lawyer. A nearby bench shows Donald Gaines Murray whose entrance into the Law School of the University of Maryland marked Marshall's first important victory in his struggle for school integration. Another bench shows figures of two children representing Marshall's most important achievement, Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka et. al. read more

See all

Having just been to the State House in Trenton in my home state of NJ a few days prior, it's hard not to draw comparisons between the two, not to mention the capital cities themselves. The Maryland State House is a gorgeous, centuries-old building that sits atop a hill overlooking the unbelievably charming city of Annapolis. It's the oldest state house in the nation still in legislative use. Like Trenton, it is free to enter after a security screening process, but unlike Trenton, it is much smaller and all self guided. They keep the doors to both legislative rooms open so you can peek in, and other rooms are dedicated to Maryland history and such notable figures as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and George Washington. Trenton's claim to fame is that Lincoln once addressed the legislature there, while here at the Maryland State House, the bulk of the attention is given to Washington resigning his military commission in 1783. As a self described history nerd, I absolutely loved visiting here. It's absolutely a can't-miss attraction if you're passing through the area for both its connection to local but also national history. read more

See all

I was surprised how much we liked exploring the second (main) floor of the state house. There is basically a small museum of Maryland that is worth a visit. It's fun to see how the house votes as well. All in all worth a visit. A weird highlight is the silver setting from the USS Maryland read more

See all

So much history in this building - oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, only state house to have served as the nation's capitol (November 26, 1783 to August 13,1784), and the Treaty of Paris was ratified in the Old Senate Chamber making Annapolis America's first peacetime capitol ...... but of course any huge GW fan (like myself) needs to visit the Maryland State House because part of his legendary status came from inside it's walls! You pass through security at the door and can walk about most of the building without issue. The old Senate chamber is believed to be where GW delivered his address to Congress resigning his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The sight of his bronze statue and being in that room imagining that significant moment in our nations history gave me goosebumps. The rooms are full of old furnishings, statues, paintings, portraits, etc. The Colonel Tilghman (assistant to GW) swords were one of my favorite items too. They are on display in the Senate Committee Room. The Grand Staircase has a painting of GW resigning his commission that's beautiful. The caucus room was probably the most stunning room with it's red velvet walls and all the cases containing historical objects. Under the rotunda dome was my personal favorite thing to see. Inside a display case you can see GW's personal copy of his resignation speech. Never forget how Washington gave up his power to give control to a civilian authority over the military. If you're in town and you appreciate history make sure you make a stop here!! read more

See all

This is a beautiful capitol building that is historically significant as the place George Washington resigned as commander in chief of the continental army. This is the oldest state capitol in continuous operation, so it's an interesting room combination of modern + Victorian + Colonial. We found a garage a couple blocks away with free parking. Tours are self-guided which would have been nice if there was a guided tour option (I had to call a couple times to even get someone to answer the phone whether this was an option or not). But there's a good amount of information on the architecture (check out the dome, it's straight up!), paintings from Lords of Baltimore, and how the building was used over time. You can't go in some of the rooms, but you can peer in through the doorway. It's free, and many of the rooms have good signs to give insight. Luckily when I went, it wasn't crowded, so there was ample time to read signs and take pics. I would like if there was a tour option and thus maybe you could walk supervised into some of the chambers, but it was still a cool place to visit for a history fan. read more

See all

Unfortunately, during my visit the outside was covered in scaffolding for some type of restoration work. There where even no trespassing signs up, which was confusing. But I was able to walk the grounds and find an entrance to take a self guided tour inside. The Maryland State House's claim to fame is that it is the oldest state house still in use. As the oldest and one of the smallest state houses, it's not as grand as some of the others. The dome is a nice wooden dome, the largest all wood dome in North America, which makes it unique. From the rotunda, you can't see all the way up into the dome. There is a probably a tour that takes you up in to the dome. The house and senate chambers are nice. Another unique touch is a room that is a recreation of the original Senate chamber. There is a statue of Washington speaking. A nice state house to visit. read more

See all

We love visiting state capitol buildings when we're traveling as you can learn so much history and get a feel for the differences between all of the states. We did a self-guided tour on our trip to Annapolis and we really enjoyed the Maryland State House. It really is quite a beautiful building and it's actually the oldest state house in continuous operation. It also has the largest wooden dome in the United States constructed without nails, which is a very fun fact. The grounds are very pretty as well and I would recommend touring it to anyone who enjoys US history. read more

See all

I absolutely love history, and learning about the good, the bad and the ugly. I can't believe so much could be learned in this small building that looks like a regular city hall area. ** Let's ignore the wild photos in this review please ** read more

See all

Beautiful building would have loved to tour it yesterday but ''twas a holiday. Still under construction as well. read more

Maryland State House - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

See all

We made the stop at the state house a few months back on our way to Colonial Williamsburg because one can never get enough history shoved down their throat in one trip. My first two impressions when I finally saw the building/area were: 1. Parking must really be an SOB most of the time. 2. Pictures don't do the building or the grounds justice in terms of how nice everything looks. The parking thing for us wasn't a big deal as we came early in the morning on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and while things were busy, it was manageable. I found a spot on State Circle across from Harry Browne's which was perfect. The small-tight one way streets must be really interesting to try to navigate on a weekday when the building is open for business. Everything here is very picturesque. I'm not going to lie in that the capitol building in Harrisburg has this place beat no question in terms of opulence and size but obviously far more important/authentic history has occurred here. Others have explained the significance of the building and what has taken place here but if you want to dork out on facts and trivia the below has you covered. msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/pdf/selfguide_sept2015.pdf The tour is self-guided and paced however you want to do it. The building is open for touring 9-5 daily except for Christmas and New Years. Just remember to bring your ID to get in the building and leave the firearms and nunchuks in the car as there is a metal detector which you need to pass through as well. A true must see if you're in the area. read more

See all

Such a fantastic view into history - The building has managed to preserve history through its architecture, museum-type information and displays, and yet combine modern House and Senate chambers of a working government. A "must see" when visiting Annapolis. read more

See all

Not a whole lot it say about my recent trip to the MD state house. I came to testify on a bill regarding reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This was my first time doing so and the first time I visit this building. First things first, parking sucks. There's a ton of hearings going on throughout the day. Unless you're getting there early you'll have to park far away. Also, there a ton of construction happening so watch out. Once inside you do have to pass through security. Without an ID you won't be allowed in. However; they just check that you have it in hand and don't actually look at it which seems unusual. There's plenty of restrooms and seating through the different floors. Some hisctoric pieces to look at while waiting help pass the time. One thing that was frustrating was not seeing a vending machine for water or snacks. Maybe I missed it but I'd recommend posting where to find it. Some cases go long and you need something quickly. I will say there are restaurants about .2 miles away so take that into consideration. read more

Once upon a summer stormy night I happened upon Maryland State House wile it wasn't open at this given hour it was still super cool to wonder around in the rain and see an awesome part of history! They have a bunch of random things around the place for you to checkout as well as some trees and a really cool huge metal door with a crazy design on it that has this knocker on it that will let anyone know your there with one smooth drop of the huge ring! There's just a cool vibe here and around the house as we really felt the history on this dark stormy night of summer rain in and around the various trees that are scattered across the lot you just kind get lost in all that must have gone on here over the many years of existence in our ever so changing country. The house is like in the middle and the roads go around it kinda placing it in the middle like the house on haunted hill type of thing as we just felt a calm cool spooky vibe here on this night of exploration around the house and cannon! Overall we had go here who knows if I'll make it back here but if so it would be cool to go inside next time! read more

See all

Most of the Capital cities I've lived in or visited have had Capitols with pretty restricted hours (often not open on weekends or when the legislature is not in session). When I visited Annapolis with my mom last week, I was expecting the State House to be closed since we were there on a Thursday - Veterans Day - which is a federal and state holiday. I was planning on just walking around the exterior! But to my surprise it was open! After a quick pass through security, we were in the Maryland State House - the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use AND the only state house to ever have served as the nation's capitol (1783-1784)! The rooms are beautiful, but the State House Caucus Room really took my breath away (that red ceiling, those arches!!). I enjoyed seeing and reading about the Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass statues in the Old House of Delegates Chamber and reading about George Washington resigning his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1783, while looking at the place where he made his resignation speech in the Old Senate Chamber. The Rotunda and Dome were beautiful, and it was interesting to look into the current Senate and House of Delegates chambers (although they were not in use as the General Assembly was not in session. A very interesting visit and definitely a place worth stepping into and exploring if you're in the area! read more

See all

I give three stars because basically is an incomplete review for now. Due to Covid-19, the State House was closed to the public. So, our party only walked around the exterior ground. It was nice and had some historical informations. FYI, no parking in the immediate area. We may return if we visit the city again. read more

Maryland State House - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

See all

A beautiful dome that's right here Annapolis. According to the legend nearby, the Maryland State House is the oldest in the nation that is still in legislative use. General George Washington (you may have heard of him) resigned his commission here before the Continental Congress. And here on January 14, 1784, Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War. Easily accessible but it is an active state house and so there is plenty of security and State Police about. Lots of monuments and memorials on the grounds, including one of Karon Johann de Kalb (1721-1780) who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He died following combat injuries, declaring "... I die the death I always prayed for. The death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man." We need more good men like this today. And another for Thurgood Marshall, who served as Supreme Court Justice. Beautiful building. My 12th State Capitol! read more

See all

Bottom: A very nice state house that is rich with local and national history. Admittedly I've only visited two state houses but I have to think that Maryland's state house is one of the nicest. The 200+ year old building is beautiful, the security staff is welcoming and the displays are relevant and informative. Even if you aren't interested in Maryland history the state house is worth a visit because it largely focuses on George Washington's presence in Annapolis. Other national figures get a mention too like Thomas Jefferson and George Mason. The relevance of George Washington at the Maryland State House is that is where General Washington resigned from the Continental Army. His letter of resignation is on display and is interesting for at least two reasons: (1) His letter is addressed to the President. President of what, one may ask ... the 16 year long Continental Congress, the convention of delegates for the first 13 colonies, had a president assigned and at that time it was Thomas Mifflin of Pennsylvania. Unlike the President of the United States the role of president of the Continental Congress was a powerless, figure head type of job. (2) He closes his letter by saying that he hereby resigns from public service but of course we know he goes on to serve as the first President of the United States. I enjoyed looking at both the present day assembly rooms where the Senate meets and the House of Reps meet. I also liked checking out the various historic rooms like the archives room. The state house also has some really nice interactive exhibits. As an added bonus, since I visited during the holidays I got to see themed Christmas trees - one from each of Maryland's counties. Prince George's was my favorite Christmas tree because it was agriculture themed including a cute Black Eyed Susan Christmas tree skirt. read more

See all

I was recommended to visit the Maryland State House by a friend on my recent DMV trip, and I am grateful for the advice. This place is exactly what you would expect in a historic capitol building complete with classic architecture and furnishings. The State House lies in the center of Annapolis on an old roundabout and extremely limited parking. I highly recommend parking in the business district and walking through the cute neighborhood to visit. They are open during normal business hours with an easy self-guiding tour. This is still a working building, so expect some impacts if the legislature is in session. Otherwise, you can easily meander the relatively small complex and take in the history and grandeur of this classic building. Stopping here is very easy when heading to or from Delmarva and its beaches. Annapolis is worth a stop anyway, but if you are passing through on a weekday, I highly recommend visiting the Maryland State House for a nice slice of free history. read more

Maryland State House - State House Exterior - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Amazing, free, quick and so inspiring! Take the time to see GW's actual resignation letter and location. Life size statue as well!

If you're in Annapolis definitely stop by the State House for a self guided tour*. Although the State House is small, it is very nicely maintained and most of the rooms on the ground floor are public. There are some beautiful old light fixtures in one of the larger rooms, and placards throughout which explain the significance of what you are looking at. In general people are more knowledgeable about the Federal government than the workings of their state governments, which probably have a larger impact on your day life. It's cool to see the actual rooms the state congressmen and senators meet in, so for this reason alone I recommend taking a few minutes to stop in. The grounds around the state house are also quite nice (the Governors mansion is right there), and it's a nice walk up Main Street from the harbor. *There are metal detectors so leave you guns at home. read more

I went inside once during a school field trip to Annapolis. The grounds are well kept and the interior is really pretty. The State House also has many histrorical artifacts that have to do with the state of Maryland. I know as living in Maryland my entire life. This is a great way to show off Maryland pride. read more

See all

I've always seen the MD State House while driving around Annapolis but I had no idea what was inside! It's a whole museum which was pretty neat! You can stand where George Washington stood when he gave his resignation speech. It also holds some significant paintings. I was pleasantly surprised going in here and I think you will be too. If not, at least it's nicely air conditioned ;) Outside there is a monument of Thurgood Marshall which I thought was neat. Check it out. read more

See all

The Maryland State building was very impressive. Beautiful architecture an amazing to be able to see the way the state Senate is laid out. Unfortunately you are limited to the first floor only. There are many things that you go to inside the talk about the dome and it would be great if the tour will allow you to enter the dome. It's a very nice piece of history if you're doing a little walking tour of Annapolis be sure and stop by. read more

See all

State house of Maryland, absolutely crazy to see all of the histories that were made inside these walls. This building had beautiful architecture inside and out. Even open on a Sunday which was awesome. The guard was very friendly! A must see if you are spending a day in Annapolis. read more

The oldest State House in the United States is a gem. A simple security check allowed unsupervised access to most rooms (the Senate and House chambers were roped off but still within view. In addition to the wonderful architecture there are also display exhibits on the building's history. Being the United States Capitol at the time (the only current State House to hold the honor) it was here that George Washington resigned from the army following his victory over the British. Thomas Jefferson also visited the House and viewed the city from its dome. The only problem is that the wooden dome is permanently closed to the public due to the value of the dome and the narrow steps. read more

See all

A really small capital building opened to the Public. Very pretty and well maintained. There is some good history that you won't want to miss, like the Commander in Chief swear in is different from the President swear in and was done here.It's small and won't last long, but worth it. read more

Maryland State House - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Awesome visit to the Maryland State House! This is the oldest state house in the country that is still in actual use as a legislative chamber. Lots of great exhibits on history and how George Washington himself resigned from the military in that actual building. It was completely surrounded by cobblestone streets that harkens back to the 18th century. Annapolis was an awesome City! read more

The Maryland State House Building is the oldest still in legislative use today. It is also the only State House to have ever served as the nation's capitol. Of historical significance, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief before the Continental Congress, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified here. We were quite surprised the State House was open on a Sunday afternoon. It's very accessible to the public, but you still need to have your bag checked through security. You can do self-guided tour of the first floor, which includes the old Senate chamber, the New Senate chamber, the old house of delegates, the House of Delegates chamber, the old senate committee room, the archives room, and the beautiful rotunda in the center of the building. Next door is the Governor's mansion, so you can definitely swing by that after you finish at the State House. All in all, we spent about 30 minutes here, and it was a nice respite from the heat of midday. read more

See all

Wow, I must say that this quaint town is really nice to visit. We got to go insde and see the large halls. Plus, we got a bit of history from the volunteers there. There is a small exhibit room to see some local stuff too. read more

I have always wanted to visit the Maryland State House (after passing by it on several occasions when visiting Annapolis, MD in the past) and finally had that chance when we visited Annapolis in May! We actually stayed at the Historic Inns of Annapolis, which were located right across from the Maryland State House, so all we had to do was walk outside and across the street! We were a bit lost at first and ended up making a huge circle and trying to enter through the back (there is no entrance there) instead of the front, but we finally made our way inside. I absolutely loved viewing the Maryland Senate and House chambers (so ornately decorated and lovely). I also loved the George Washington exhibit - they did a great job! I also enjoyed visiting the various rooms in the Maryland State House, designed to tell the story of Maryland and its place in our nation's history. Fun fact - Annapolis, MD was, for a short time (from 1783 to 1784), the capital of the United States. Another fun fact - it was in the Old Senate Chamber that Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the American Revolutionary War. It's also the oldest U.S. state capitol in continuous legislative use and dates back to 1772! What was the most magical about this beautiful building was that it was in this building that George Washington, in 1783, resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. It was pure magic to stand in the spot where he did so, and there's a statue of him there now. We spent a good hour in the Maryland State House and I loved every moment of it. I would certainly love to return whenever I visit Annapolis again in the future! It has so much history and charm. read more

Annapolis is a cute town for fat people. Chickies and Ruth's is down the street so you can eat your 5 pound milk shake and 10 pound burger after you walk the state house. Its free to go in but you need to be stripped searched prior to entering. Fat people like being naked. read more

A free 30 minute tour is available and is fantastic if you are history dork like myself. Wish they had more money to go into renovating some of the historical rooms. So it could be better but at least they have a vision. read more

A pretty spot for a good walk. Lots of little shops and cobblestone streets surrounding it. I really liked the fact that you can go inside on weekends and imagine the heavy discussions that goes on in these rooms. Plus, the bathroom is clean and without a line. read more

If you want a bit of history, this is the place to go. There is so much information here so you may not be able to read everything in one visit, but it certainly is worth a stop. It's free, and if you don't want to do the tour you can wander on you own....take five minutes or hours, it's your choice which makes it a pain free attraction. read more

Impressive and beautiful. Easy access. At night the view is fantastic with great history here

I had recently gone to Madison, WI and taken a tour of the state capitol there (which is awesome, btw) which, I think, affects my rating and experience of the MD State House. The MD State House is nice but there was a lot of renovation going on so there's not much to see -- just where the Senators meet (1 room) and where representatives meet (another room). And I prefer to have an organized tour whereas in MD, it was self-guided. That said, If you're in the area, definitely go. It doesn't take too long and it is interesting. If you know more history than I do, you'll probably have a better appreciation/understanding of it. read more

We came here at the end of the day, and I am VERY glad for that. When we came in and went through security, I had chatted with the guard, Joe, a bit about where we were from and a little about the history of the building. After walking around and looking at this beautiful, historic building, we walked back over to go and Joe asked us if we were in a hurry. We weren't, so told us he was going to give us a pop-quiz and if we got one of his questions right, he would show us something cool about the building. Though we weren't able to answer any of his questions correctly, he appreciated us giving it the old college try (and his questions were HARD!) and went ahead and showed us some awesome fossils in the marble in the floor. After that, since it was 5pm and they were closing, he had me help him close the 2,000lb metal front doors, and then proceeded to give us, and a few other late comers who had shown up while we were closing the doors, a quick tour of the ground floor going over some things that are NOT on the readings (like about the ghost that only touches women). He also opened up a beautiful room that had been closed and locked when we were walking around earlier so that we could see it, along with the Baltimore silver - there's a piece for every county! The history that has happened in this building is amazing. And for that matter, so is Joe! read more

Street Parking in Annapolis is very limited and meters are limited to 2-hours. There are a number of parking garages in the area that are only a short walk from the Capitol Building. Visitors enter from the north entrance and must pass through security. Tours are self-guided and can be limited when the legislature is in session. During my visit I was able to tour the Old House and Senate Chambers as well as the current House and Senate Chambers. On December 23, 1783, George Washington resigned his commission in the Old Senate Chamber. Across the street from the north entrance of the capitol is justice square where a statue of U. S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall stands. A self guided tour of the state house and grounds took me about an hour, but there are a number of other historical building around the capitol and visitors can spend a couple of additional hours touring the historical sites of downtown Annapolis. read more

They have a truly remarkable historical artifact here; a real relic of our history - George Washington's resignation letter! That alone was simply amazing. He resigned rather than be deified/made king, which some folks wanted him to do. The letter is very nicely displayed; one can get quite close to it and see it very nicely. Something like that is usually much more distant. The building is neat and the associated history makes for a fun visit. Go with one of the tours they do from Watermark down at the city dock/ego alley. You'll get 10x the experience over what you could generate on your own. read more