Annapolis for a day

Adam visited this weekend, so we drove to Annapolis on Saturday. It's a lovely, historical town. I had visited once before without taking any tours. This time, we got some real history lessons.

My new state Capitol
The state Capitol building (called the State House and seen in the photo above) dates to 1780. It's the oldest state Capitol in continuous legislative use. The U.S. Congress met there in 1783-84. It's also where General George Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and where the Treaty of Paris was ratified. The Old Senate Chamber, where these events occurred, still exists and a bronze plaque marks the spot where Washington stood when he announced his resignation.

I also learned a little more about my state government while we were there. We visited on a Saturday, just before Easter, but the House and Senate were in session. Why? Because Maryland's General Assembly is limited to a 90-day session each year, and this year's session ended today. Thus, the last few days were busy as the chambers finished their work. And the speed with which the Senate was moving was either an indication of the end of the session or these people work MUCH more efficiently than Missouri's Legislature (possibly both).

I was also surprised by the intimate size of the State House. My main experience has been with Missouri's Capitol building (and I've also spent some time in that of Illinois). Since this building is original, it's VERY small by comparison. Maryland has 47 state senators and 141 delegates. Missouri has 34 state senators and 163 representatives.

I would guess that the Senate chamber in Missouri is larger than the House and Senate chambers combined in Maryland. In order to cram so many people into each chamber, the legislators had tiny desks side-by-side. Seriously, I'm not sure how they all fit.

A crabby lunch
We ate lunch at a seafood restaurant and took advantage of where we were. Our table was filled with: local oysters, crab dip, crab bisque, crab cakes ... and a blooming onion (for variety). Everything was delicious.



Hitting the seas, college style
One of the more interesting points of the day was our tour of the U.S. Naval Academy. Afterward, I almost wished I had gone there (though in reality, I'm not sure I would have liked so many rules). The Yard (campus) was full of beautiful old buildings, and we learned a lot about the Academy. (I knew nothing beforehand, so those of you with more knowledge might not be as surprised as I was.)

So, upon entering the school, you're joining the Navy. That means you have to do more than just fill out an application (there's a huge process including physical tests). It also means your whole experience is paid for by Uncle Sam. The school offers about 20 different bachelor of science majors. Once there, students, called midshipmen, are in uniform (casual, formal, gym uniform, etc.) most all the time.

The dormitory, Bancroft Hall (photo above), is the largest dormitory in the U.S. an holds about 4,200 midshipmen. They are subject to dorm inspections (beyond the typical college searches for alcohol, these students are judged on whether any dust is collected when a white-gloved hand is run across the ledge in their rooms). Midshipmen are given a book with information they must memorize and be able to recite on command. They are required to perform two hours of physical activity each day, and most days are pretty regimented (more than just one class each Tuesday and Thursday).

I'm sure I've left off many other interesting points, but I would just recommend taking the tour to get the whole experience.

See more photos of my Annapolis trip here.