Maryland State House

The Maryland State House, located in Annapolis, is the oldest State Capitol in continuous legislative use. Construction of the original pre-revolutionary structure began in 1772 and was mostly completed in 1775. The State House has played a vital role in the history of the United States, serving as the temporary Capitol of the nation from 1783 to 1784 when Philadelphia was occupied by the British. The Treaty of Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War, was ratified in the Old Senate Chamber of the Maryland State House by The Congress of the Confederation on January 14, 1784. Furthermore, in this same Chamber on December 23, 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, this considered a seminal moment of American history and statesmanship, where Washington voluntarily resigned, establishing the precedent for civilian control of the military.

The building is renowned for its iconic dome, completed in 1789, which remains the largest wooden dome in the United States, and its historic role in shaping Maryland’s governance.