The Appalachian Preservation Society
Maryland
The US50 - A guide to the fifty states. Since the first European colonists set foot on its shores in 1631, Maryland has played a significant role in American history. Some of the state’s links to the nation’s past - Antietam or Fort McHenry - are so enduring that they’re recognized by name alone, while others are just waiting to be discovered.
Wildernet - Maryland. This small East Coast state occupies shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River and Atlantic Ocean. It also provides access to the museums, zoos and historic sites of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Maryland contains a diverse landscape that includes mountains, rivers, streams, wetlands and coastline. The western portion of the state is the least populated. It encompasses a thin panhandle that extends between southern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The Potomac River forms the border between West Virginia and western Maryland. Three state forests lie in this region among several state parks.
Maryland Government - The Maryland Electronic Capital. The Maryland home page.and Maryland Electronic Capital - Counties
The MDGenWeb Project. We hope you find this site helpful as you research your Maryland roots. We've tried to make it your very best source and starting point for Maryland Genealogy and History.
Maryland State Archives Home Page. The history of Maryland.
History of Early Maryland by Rev. Theodore C. Gambrall, A. M., D.D. Published by Thomas Whittaker, New York, 1893.
Maryland's Public Lands Maryland DNR. The State Forest and Park Service invites you to visit one of Maryland's 47 state parks.
Maryland Office of Tourism Development. So many things to do. So close together.
State TopoView Maryland from the National Geophysical Data Center.
Maryland National Park Guide by State from the National Park Service.
Maryland State Information from 50states.com.
Land Records - Maryland State Archives. When King Charles I granted the Charter of Maryland to Cecil Calvert on June 20, 1632, he gave him ownership of all land within certain boundaries. Article XVIII of The Charter gave Lord Baltimore full authority to "assign, Alien, grante, demise, or enfeoff" any parcels [of the Province} to any persons willing to purchase the same. Down to the time of the Revolutionary War, all land grants in Maryland came from the Lords Baltimore, and after the death of Frederick, the 6th Lord Baltimore, from his son, Henry Harford, the Proprietor. It was the custom to date legal documents by the Regnal Year of the British Monarch, and this phraseology gave rise to the unfounded myth that Marylanders had "land grants from the King." Between 1634 and 1680, the Calverts encouraged settlers by promising to grant each settler so many acres (usually 50 acres) for himself and for each other person he or she brought into the Province. In 1680 this "head right" system was abolished, but Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore, created the Land Office.
History of Early Maryland by Rev. Theodore C. Gambrall from New River Notes.
Maryland Loyalism and the American Revolution a web site devoted to the history of those Marylanders who sided with England in the "unnatural rebellion".
Antietam was and is the "Bloodiest Day in American History." With the back drop of Antietam Creek and on the outskirts of Sharpsburg, Maryland one of the most pivotal battles of the Civil War was fought. The enormous importance of this battle can only really be measured by history, but instead could only have been felt by those whose lives were attached, some permantly, to that Maryland battlefield on September 17, 1862.
Fort McHenry's history began in 1776 during the Revolutionary War. Originally an earthern star shaped fort, it was called Fort Whetstone because of its location on Whetstone Point. The site was an excellent location for two reasons. It was located far enough from Baltimore to provide protection without endangering the city, and it was surrounded on three sides by water. Constructing the fort on this site meant that enemy ships sailing into Baltimore would have to pass the fort first. The Revolutionary War ended without an attack on Baltimore. However, improvements to the fort continued. In 1798, a year after Baltimore was incorporated as a city, a French engineer, Jean Foncin, was selected to plan a new fort on Whetstone Point. It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814 that inspired 35-year old, poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was to become our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." In 1931 the Congress of The United States of America enacted legislation that made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. This late 18th century star-shaped fort is world famous as the birthplace of the United States' national anthem. The guardian of Baltimore's harbor, it was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during a British attack on September 13-14, 1814, that inspired 35 year old poet-lawyer, Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Maryland Directory 1878. Being a descriptive compilation of the counties, towns, villages, post offices, etc.
Assessment of 1783. Tax list covering all of Maryland;s counties.
Frederick Co, Maryland was formed from Prince George's County in 1748. This site contains research data from the early days of Frederick County (also known as Western Maryland).
For information on Maryland's Civil War history, check Civil War Sites in Maryland and Maryland in the Civil War.
Chesapeake Bay Lights contain information on lighthouse on the bay.
Maryland Profiles, interactive county maps from the United States Census Bureau.
Flag History. The Maryland flag has been described as the perfect state flag--bold colors, interesting patterns, and correct heraldry. The design of the flag comes from the shield in the coat of arms of the Calvert family, the colonial proprietors of Maryland.
Maryland. In 1608, Capt. John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay. Charles I granted a royal charter for Maryland to Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, in 1632, and English settlers, many of whom were Roman Catholic, landed on St. Clement's (now Blakistone) Island in 1634.
Maryland's Feudal Past. The Calverts ruled with the force of kings as Lords Baltimore (there were six). From 1637, when the English King granted Cecilius Calvert dominion over Maryland (which early on included some of VA and all of DE) until 1775, all the land was owned by the Calverts and 'granted', which meant in effect leased, by their authority
Maryland Mailing Lists contain many helpful topics.
A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland 1751; Map of the State of Maryland 1794; the probable theatre of the war 1861; Maryland Campaign, Sept. 3rd to 29th 1862; and the 1904 Gazetteer of Maryland.
Southeastern Genealogy Online's State of Maryland contains Maryland History; County Formation Maps; Census Maps; and the Military History of Maryland.