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

Congress Was Here

West Street

— At the End of the Revolution —

Congress Was Here Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 2, 2018

1. Congress Was Here Marker

Inscription.
1784
Peace Treaty Ratified

[Captions:]
• Governor William Paca's Proclamation of the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. Treaty of Paris Broadside Collection [MSA SC 5785]
• The last page of the Treaty of Paris, signed September 3, 1783 by David Hartley for Great Britain and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay for the United States of America. Ourdocuments.gov

In November 1783, two years after the victory at Yorktown, Congress moved the seat of government from Princeton to Annapolis, where it remained until August 1784. During this period, while meeting in the State House, Congress accepted General George Washington's resignation as commander in chief of American forces on December 23, 1783. Three weeks later, Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war and established American independence.

In September 1786, twelve delegates from five states met in Annapolis to discuss problems with the Articles of Confederation, the first plan was for a national government. The report produced by this Annapolis Convention led to the creation of a new United States Constitution in Philadelphia the following year.

[Captions:]
View of Annapolis in 1800
by C. Milbourne
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach

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Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "View of Annapolis, Maryland." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1800.
http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d4709-7b3d-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Old Senate Chamber
Washington before Congress in the State House

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Peace • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #02 John Adams, and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1784.

Location. 38° 58.71′ N, 76° 29.639′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. Marker is on West Street (Maryland Route 450) west of Church Circle, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 West Street, Annapolis MD 21401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Claude House (a few steps from this marker); The City Spared (a few steps from this marker); A Community Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Lot 70 Is Historically Significant (within shouting distance of this marker); Reynold's Tavern (within shouting

Congress Was Here Marker (upper half) image. Click for full size.

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, June 30, 2019

2. Congress Was Here Marker (upper half)

Viewing east towards marker.
Note #1: This marker mentions several signers of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams (Massachusetts), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), and William Paca (Maryland.) Note #2: Several important Marylanders were likely present at George Washington's resignation in Annapolis as Commander-in-Chief at the end of the American Revolution:
• Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Signer of Declaration of Independence
• Samuel Chase, Signer of Declaration of Independence
• John Eager Howard, General & Governor
• Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Signer of Declaration of U.S. Constitution
• James McHenry, Signer of the U.S. Constitution
• William Paca, Signer of Declaration of Independence
• William Smallwood, General & Governor
• Samuel Chase, Signer of Declaration of Independence
• Samuel Smith, General & U.S. Senator
• John Hoskins Stone, General & Governor
• Thomas Stone, Signer of Declaration of Independence
• Otho Holland Williams, General

distance of this marker); Marion Warren's six photographs capture this historic Annapolis neighborhood in a sleepier time (within shouting distance of this marker); Southgate Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Maryland Inn (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.

Also see . . . George Washington Resigns his Commission in Annapolis, Preservation Maryland. (Submitted on September 22, 2019.)

Congress Was Here Marker (Lower half) image. Click for full size.

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, June 30, 2019

3. Congress Was Here Marker (Lower half)

Viewing east towards the marker.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 2, 2018

4. Congress Was Here Marker

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 17, 2023

5. Congress Was Here Marker

Map of Annapolis image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 2, 2018

6. Map of Annapolis

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 355 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2019. 4. submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on April 27, 2023, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 6. submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.