Four Rivers - Things to Do: Heritage Sites and Services - National Register/National Historic Landmarks

The Banneker-Douglass Museum, named for Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, is dedicated to preserving Maryland's African American heritage and serves as the state's official repository of African American material culture. The museum was dedicated on February 24, 1984. The original museum was housed within the former Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church in the heart of historic Annapolis. The Victorian-Gothic structure was included in the Annapolis Historic District in 1971 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The recently completed BDM addition is a four-story addition which uses the nineteenth-century brick of the church's north fa?ade as its interior lobby wall. The Banneker-Douglass Museum celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.

National Register site, a restored waterman's home that introduces visitors to the life of Chesapeake Bay watermen in the 1860s, together with later history of the site and the community.

The Chase-Lloyd House is an 18th century Georgian-style townhouse. Originally constructed between 1769 and 1774, the home had been used as a residence for the Lloyd family until the early 19th century. At this time descendants of the Chase family, the first to begin construction on the house in 1769, acquired the property. Since the late 19th century, the upper levels of this three-story structure have been used as a convalescence home. The exquisitely decorated first floor, however, is open to the public and has retained much of the architectural and ornamental features of the original home.

The Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center is housed in "Twin Oaks," the summer cottage built by the son of Frederick Douglass, a former slave who achieved international acclaim as an abolitionist, orator, civil rights advocate, writer, publisher, and statesman.

Built in 1774, this Georgian Palladian house was designed for wealthy tobacco planter Matthias Hammond. The residence includes 18th-century family furnishings, portraiture and a beautiful Colonial revival boxwood garden. Extensive collection of historic Maryland art includes 10 works by Charles Willson Peale, as well as paintings by Rembrandt Peale, James Peale, Charles Peale Polk, John Hesselius, John Beale Bordley, and furniture by Shaw. Popular hands-on school programs available.

This outstanding historic site on the South River has been owned by Anne Arundel County since 1828. The site includes the archaeological remains of buildings that comprise the colonial-era "lost" town of London; a National Historic Landmark, the William Brown House, dating to circa 1760; an 8-acred woodland garden; a state-of-the-art archaeology laboratory; interpretation of the African American history of the site including an interactive website; and a new Visitor Center, which opened to the public in late 2007. The pavilion is available for rentals for celebrations and special events.

The beautiful Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use and is the only state house to have ever served as the nation's capitol. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784. During that time, George Washington came before Congress to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War. The State House is where the Maryland General Assembly convenes for three months each year, and the elected leadership of the state — the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Delegates and president of the Senate — all have their offices there.

This 786-acre park on the Chesapeake Bay offers a variety of recreational activities including swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating, windsurfing and birdwatching. The park's beaches and picnic areas provide unparalleled views of the Bay amd the Bay Bridge. A trails sign at the historic Sandy Point Farm in the park tells the story of more than 100 area slaves who joined the United States Colored Troops.

Built in 1763 on the site of two previous churches (1689 and pre-1692); cemetery contains one of the oldest tombstones in Maryland

Built in 1898 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1898, Wiley H. Bates, an African American alderman from the fourth ward, introduced a resolution to the Annapolis Legislature, appealing for the establishment of a school for African American children in Annapolis; the school opened in 1900 for 309 students.

One of the few remaining screwpile lighthouses on Chesapeake Bay, Thomas Point Shoal Light (TPSL) is the only one still standing watch on its original offshore station. This National Historic Landmark hexagonal frame lighthouse, 2 ½ stories high, sits on seven cast iron screwpiles at the mouth of the Bays South River, a few miles from historic downtown Annapolis. A familiar sight to Chesapeake Bay boaters for generations, Thomas Point Light is now in the hands of a partnership consisting of the City of Annapolis, the Annapolis Maritime Museum and the U.S. Lighthouse Societys Chesapeake Chapter. The Lighthouse has been restored and opened for limited escorted group visits from the Annapolis Maritime Museum during the summer months.

The United State Naval Academy was established in Annapolis in 1845 and since that time has trained many of the Navys most renowned Naval officers. Occupying 10 acres, this National Historic Landmark historic district is open to the public upon presentation of valid identification. The Academy's Visitor Center is located on King George Street inside Gate 1. Over a million visitors a year come to the academy, which is a National Historic Site. Popular spots include the Naval Academy Museum in Preble hall, the Navy Chapel, and the public areas of Bancroft Hall. Memorial Hall contains several rolls of honor, including lists of academy grads who were killed in action or who won the Medal of Honor. The Brigade of Midshipmen holds a lunchtime formation about 12:10 p.m. weekdays, weather permitting, in Tecumseh Court in front of Bancroft Hall.

The U.S. Naval Academy Museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually from all over the world. Located in Preble Hall on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Museum offers two floors of exhibits about the history of seapower, the development of the U.S. Navy, and the role of the U.S. Naval Academy in producing officers capable of leading America's sailors and marines. Our displays combine historical artifacts with video and audio technology to bring to life the stories of the men and women who have served their country at sea. Whether you are a casual visitor, a student of naval history, or a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen, the Museum stands ready to make your visit a memorable one. The museum has remarkable collections related to American naval history, most notably its ship models. More information is available on the museum's website.

Constructed between 1763-1765, the five-part Georgian residence was built as a town home for William Paca, a wealthy young planter who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is furnished with a fine collection of antique furniture, silver, and decorative arts. Changing exhibits highlight different aspects of everyday life in the 1760s and 1770s for William Paca, his wife, Mary, and other members of their household. In 1901, the Annapolis Hotel Corporation purchased the property to build Carvel Hall Hotel. The 200-room hotel covered the entire site for more than half a century. In 1965, Historic Annapolis Foundation saved this landmark, guiding the rebuilding of the garden through extensive archaeological research, and returning the house to its 18th-century appearance. Today, tours will guide you through the history of the property, including the interpretation of slave and African American history of the site, as well as the opulent Paca garden.

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