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history
Maryland's flag bears the arms of the Calvert and Mynne families (the latter wrongly identified as the Crossland family in the act creating a State flag). Calvert was the family name of the Lords Baltimore who founded Maryland, and their colours of gold and black appear in the first and fourth quarters of the flag. Mynne was the family of Anne Calvert, the wife of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore. The red and white Mynne colours, with a cross bottony, appear in the second and third quarters. This flag was first flown October 11, 1880, in Baltimore at a parade marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Baltimore. It also was flown October 25, 1888, at Gettysburg Battlefield for ceremonies dedicating monuments to Maryland regiments of the Army of the Potomac. Officially, it was adopted as the State flag in 1904.
Maryland law requires that if any ornament is affixed to the top of a flagstaff carrying the Maryland flag, the ornament must be a gold cross bottony.
Maryland law requires that if any ornament is affixed to the top of a flagstaff carrying the Maryland flag, the ornament must be a gold cross bottony.
Nickname: The Old Line State.
Capital: Annapolis.
Constitution: The 7th State.
Statehood: April 28th 1788.
Motto: Fatti maschil parole femine - Manly deeds womanly words
History:
Algonquian and Susquehannock Indians lived in Maryland before Europeans went to the region. William Claiborne of Virginia founded the first colonial settlement in 1631, on Kent Island. In 1632, King Charles I of England chartered the region to Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. Maryland was named after the king's wife, Queen Henrietta Maria.
During the War of 1812, the Battle of Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star- Spangled Banner," which became the U.S. national anthem.
Maryland remained in the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Being physically between the two sides, Marylands' economy depended equally on the North and the South. Sympathies in the state were therefore as much pro-Union as they were pro-Confederate. Reflecting that division, the state government would not declare for either side.
For the Federal Government, however, there was no question about which side Maryland had to take. If she seceded, Washington D.C. would be surrounded by hostile states, effectively cut off from the rest of the Union.
In 1952, Maryland opened the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (now the William P. Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge). Harbourplace, a modern commercial complex, opened in Baltimore's Inner Harbour in 1980.
Bird:
The Baltimore Oriole is the official Maryland bird. Special provisions have been made for its protection.
The oriole's plumage of black and gold, the same colours as in the Calvert shield, led to its early association with the name of the proprietor. In 1698, "Baltemore Birds" were among the "Beasts of Curriosity" ordered sent from Maryland to grace the royal gardens.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans, corn.
Industry:
Electric equipment, food processing, chemical products, printing and publishing, transportation equipment, machinery, primary metals, coal, tourism.
Flower:
The Black-Eyed Susan has been the official Maryland flower since 1918. A yellow daisy, or coneflower, it blooms in late summer and is commonly found in fields and on roadsides.
Origin of state's name:
Named to honor Henrietta Maria, wife of England's King Charles I.
Seal:
The Great Seal of Maryland is used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other offical purposes.
The first Great Seal was sent from England shortly after settlement of the colony. Except for the period of crown rule (1692-1715) when different seals were used, the first Great Seal remained in use, though slightly altered, until the American Revolution. The State of Maryland then adopted a new seal similar in form and spirit to those of other states. One hundred years later, Maryland readopted its old seal (Joint Resolution no. 5, Acts of 1876). Only the reverse of this seal has ever been cut. The obverse, however, is still considered part of the seal and often adorns public buildings.
The front of the seal (called the reverse side) shows a shield, bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's coronet and a full-faced helmet. The shield is supported on one side by a farmer and on the other by a fisherman. They symbolize Lord Baltimore's two estates: Maryland, and Avalon in Newfoundland. The Calvert motto on the scroll is Fatti maschii parole femine, and means "strong deeds, gentle words." The Latin words on the border mean "with favour wilt thou compass us as with a shield." The date, 1632, refers to the year the Maryland charter was granted by Charles I, King of England, to Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore.
The Great Seal of Maryland (obverse)
The other side (called the obverse side) of the Seal shows Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armour mounted on a charger. The inscription translated is "Cecilius, Absoulute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron of Baltimore."
Tree:
In 1941, Maryland designated the White Oak as the State Tree. Handsome and sturdy, the white oak is named for its whitish bark and grey twigs. The species is found commonly throughout the state.
This beautiful tree, which represents the State Tree of Maryland, is called the Wye Oak and stands at Wye Mills on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is more than 100 feet high and has a branch spread of 165 feet. It is one of the largest in the world.
The Wye Oak - The largest White Oak in the United States. Estimated to be 400 years old (1940). Deeded to the State of Maryland Sept. 20, 1939.
Algonquian and Susquehannock Indians lived in Maryland before Europeans went to the region. William Claiborne of Virginia founded the first colonial settlement in 1631, on Kent Island. In 1632, King Charles I of England chartered the region to Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. Maryland was named after the king's wife, Queen Henrietta Maria.
During the War of 1812, the Battle of Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star- Spangled Banner," which became the U.S. national anthem.
Maryland remained in the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Being physically between the two sides, Marylands' economy depended equally on the North and the South. Sympathies in the state were therefore as much pro-Union as they were pro-Confederate. Reflecting that division, the state government would not declare for either side.
For the Federal Government, however, there was no question about which side Maryland had to take. If she seceded, Washington D.C. would be surrounded by hostile states, effectively cut off from the rest of the Union.
In 1952, Maryland opened the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (now the William P. Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge). Harbourplace, a modern commercial complex, opened in Baltimore's Inner Harbour in 1980.
Bird:
The Baltimore Oriole is the official Maryland bird. Special provisions have been made for its protection.
The oriole's plumage of black and gold, the same colours as in the Calvert shield, led to its early association with the name of the proprietor. In 1698, "Baltemore Birds" were among the "Beasts of Curriosity" ordered sent from Maryland to grace the royal gardens.
Economy:
Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans, corn.
Industry:
Electric equipment, food processing, chemical products, printing and publishing, transportation equipment, machinery, primary metals, coal, tourism.
Flower:
The Black-Eyed Susan has been the official Maryland flower since 1918. A yellow daisy, or coneflower, it blooms in late summer and is commonly found in fields and on roadsides.
Origin of state's name:
Named to honor Henrietta Maria, wife of England's King Charles I.
Seal:
The Great Seal of Maryland is used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other offical purposes.
The first Great Seal was sent from England shortly after settlement of the colony. Except for the period of crown rule (1692-1715) when different seals were used, the first Great Seal remained in use, though slightly altered, until the American Revolution. The State of Maryland then adopted a new seal similar in form and spirit to those of other states. One hundred years later, Maryland readopted its old seal (Joint Resolution no. 5, Acts of 1876). Only the reverse of this seal has ever been cut. The obverse, however, is still considered part of the seal and often adorns public buildings.
The front of the seal (called the reverse side) shows a shield, bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's coronet and a full-faced helmet. The shield is supported on one side by a farmer and on the other by a fisherman. They symbolize Lord Baltimore's two estates: Maryland, and Avalon in Newfoundland. The Calvert motto on the scroll is Fatti maschii parole femine, and means "strong deeds, gentle words." The Latin words on the border mean "with favour wilt thou compass us as with a shield." The date, 1632, refers to the year the Maryland charter was granted by Charles I, King of England, to Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore.
The Great Seal of Maryland (obverse)
The other side (called the obverse side) of the Seal shows Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armour mounted on a charger. The inscription translated is "Cecilius, Absoulute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron of Baltimore."
Tree:
In 1941, Maryland designated the White Oak as the State Tree. Handsome and sturdy, the white oak is named for its whitish bark and grey twigs. The species is found commonly throughout the state.
This beautiful tree, which represents the State Tree of Maryland, is called the Wye Oak and stands at Wye Mills on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is more than 100 feet high and has a branch spread of 165 feet. It is one of the largest in the world.
The Wye Oak - The largest White Oak in the United States. Estimated to be 400 years old (1940). Deeded to the State of Maryland Sept. 20, 1939.