Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Maryland State House

The Naval War of 1812 in Annapolis

— Don't Give Up the Ship! —

Maryland State House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

1. Maryland State House Marker

Inscription.
The seat of Maryland government, the State House was at the center of the state's planning for the War of 1812, both locally and in coordination with President Madison's administration in Washington, D.C. Near constant fear of invasion by the British led Governor Levin Winder (1757-1819) to direct the removal of the state's historical records from the State House for relocation to various sites from 1813 to 1815. Throughout the period of the war, the State House dome was used as a lookout by Major William Barney (son of Commodore Joshua Barney) to monitor the movement of British ships coming up the Chesapeake Bay.

The war, and the effect it had on public officials, British sailors in the Bay, and the free and enslaved residents of Annapolis, is explored in the exhibit "'The enemy nearly all `round us' : Annapolis and the War of 1812" that will be on display in the State House throughout 2013.

[Caption:]
Engraving of the State House at Annapolis, 1789
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)
Maryland State Archives

Erected by United States Naval Academy. (Marker Number 9.)

Topics and series. This historical

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #04 James Madison, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 58.723′ N, 76° 29.485′ W. Marker was in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It was on State Circle. Marker is to the left of the front door of the Maryland State House. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Annapolis MD 21401, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Maryland.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

2. Maryland State House Marker

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Government House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Maryland State House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sacred to the Memory of Baron de Kalb (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Baron Johann de Kalb (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Baron Johann de Kalb (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Baron Johann de Kalb, 1721 - 1780 (within shouting distance of this marker); Matthew Alexander Henson (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Baron Johann de Kalb, 1721 - 1780 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Naval War of 1812 in Annapolis Walking Tour.

The State House Dome and Maryland Flag image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

3. The State House Dome and Maryland Flag

On the No-Parking Sign.

Richard Schlecht’s War of 1812 Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

4. Richard Schlecht’s War of 1812 Mural

Inside the Maryland State House

Watching from the State House Dome image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

5. Watching from the State House Dome

Commodore Barney's Son William views the British Fleet from the State House Dome on Richard Schlecht’s Mural

The HMS <i>Menelaus</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

6. The HMS Menelaus

Seen through an "excellent glass" from the State House dome on August 20, 1814, on Richard Schlecht’s Mural.

21 enslaved African Americans from Annapolis took the opportunity of the panic engendered by the British presence to escape to the Menelaus.

The Port of Annapolis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013

7. The Port of Annapolis

During the war of 1812 the Naval Academy had yet to be founded. Annapolis was an important Maryland sea-port and the Capital of the State. Detail from Richard Schlecht’s Mural.

Gabriel Hall image. Click for full size.

8. Gabriel Hall

The exhibit "The Enemy Nearly All 'Round Us" in the State House includes this photo of Gabriel Hall, an African American Refugee from Maryland who went over to the British during the War of 1812. He settled in Halifax Nova Scotia following the war.(Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,027 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on July 10, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on February 23, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.