Annapolis
Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, a port city on Chesapeake Bay, and the home of the United States Naval Academy.
United States Naval Academy: A federal service academy in Annapolis that educates and commissions officers for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The academy is Annapolis’s best-known institution and a major presence in the city.
Province of Maryland: An English colony established in 1632 that became the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis developed as a colonial settlement within Maryland.
Maryland: A U.S. state on the Mid-Atlantic coast, bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and several neighboring states. Annapolis is Maryland’s capital and a center of its state government.
Baltimore: Maryland’s largest city and a major port on the Patapsco River, near Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is larger and more industrial, while Annapolis is the state capital and a smaller historic port.
Sailing: The sport and practice of moving a vessel by harnessing wind in its sails. Sailing is prominent in Annapolis’s recreational culture and public image.
Maryland State House: A historic state capitol building in Annapolis, completed in 1779 and used by the Maryland General Assembly. It anchors Annapolis’s role as Maryland’s seat of government.
Chesapeake Bay: The largest estuary in the United States, extending between Maryland and Virginia. The bay shaped Annapolis’s location, harbor, and maritime economy.
Maryland General Assembly: The bicameral legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. Its sessions in Annapolis make the city the center of state lawmaking.
Washington, D.C.: The capital of the United States, a federal district on the Potomac River. Annapolis is Maryland’s state capital, distinct from the nearby national capital.
United States Naval Academy traditions: Ceremonies, customs, and symbols maintained by midshipmen and graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy. Academy traditions are visible throughout city life and connect generations of Annapolis residents and visitors.