St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“…a convenient place for the administration of Justice.”
Governing
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
1. Governing Marker
This building is a reconstruction of the colony of Maryland's State House finished in 1676.
The original brick State House was located just north of here on a bluff that is now the cemetery of Trinity Episcopal Church. In that building the Maryland Assembly and courts of law met for nearly twenty years, until the capital moved to Annapolis in 1695.
This reconstruction, like its predecessor, is two and half stories tall. The main floor holds a large chamber for gatherings of the Assembly and the Provincial Court. On the second floor is a committee room for joint business of the Lower House and the Proprietor's Council, as well as the Council meeting room and Secretary's office. Fire-arms and gunpowder for public defense were kept under lock and key in the attic.
This building was constructed as the centerpiece of the Tercentenary Celebration in 1934, marking the 300th anniversary of the founding of Maryland.
“…there by and Equal Assessment uppon the taxable persons of the said province the sume of three hundred and thirty thousand pounds of Tobacco to be payed to John Quigley his heires Executors or administrators who had undertaken to build the said state house & prison by the Last day of October which shall be in the yeare of or Lord God 1676…” — Assembly Proceedings, May–June
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1676.
Location. 38° 11.222′ N, 76° 26.053′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker is on Old State House Road when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47418 Old State House Road, Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sharing Land and Legacy (a few steps from this marker); The Gift of the Society of the Ark and the Dove (within shouting distance of this marker); The St. Mary’s Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mary's College of Maryland Land Acknowledgement and Pledge (within shouting distance of this marker); Saint Mary's Female Seminary (within shouting distance of this marker); After the Disastrous Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); "…for the good and happy Government" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trinity Church, St. Mary’s Parish (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Mary's City.
Also see . . . Replica of the 1676 State House, 1934. (PDF) SM-11 Maryland Inventory of Historic Places. (Submitted on March 16, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
2. Governing Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
3. A Landmark its Own Right
Today the State House is a place for historical re-enactments, exhibits, ceremonies, public dinners, and performances. A landmark in its own right, it is the unofficial “town hall” of St. Mary's City and St. Mary's College.Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
4. Re-Construction
The Howard family donated the land on which this reconstruction of the state house was built in 1934. Trinity Episcopal Church is visible in the background. In the walls of the church are 17th-century bricks reused from the original State House. Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
5. Blue Print
Herbert G. Crisp, James R. Edmunds, Jr., and Horace Peaslee, Associated Architects did this construction blue-print of the first floor plan for the 1934 reconstruction of the State House. Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
6. Artist's Conception
Although we will never know many details of the original structure, this artist's conception depicts how the State House might have been used in the 17th century. Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
7. Timeline 1630 - 1710
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
8. Timeline 1830 - 1950
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
9. The Reconstructed State House
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
10. Boxwood and Hugoius Roses
This Planting of Box-wood and Hugoius Roses is the gift of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, 1934.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, January 11, 2015
11. The Reconstructed State House
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on March 16, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
