Baltimore Heritage

231 years ago, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, thereby affirming that the new United States of America would have civilian control of the military. He did so in the Senate Chamber of the Maryland State House in Annapolis. After seven years of research, construction and conservation, the room has been restored to how it looked in 1783-1784, when Congress held session in Annapolis, ratified the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War, and received George Washington’s resignation. If you’ve ever wondered why George Washington is facing south on top of our own Washington Monument here in Baltimore and why he has a scroll in his hand, the statue shows his important act of resignation to the south in the State House Senate Chambers.

The restoration of the Old Senate Chambers included the physical room itself (which is now stunning), as well as important paintings such as Edwin White’s “Washington Resigning His Commission” and Charles Willson Peale’s “Washington, Lafayette, & Tilghman at Yorktown.” We are thrilled that our tour guide is Mr. Michael K. Day, Chief and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer who oversaw all seven years of the painstaking restoration. We hope you can join us at 11:00 am for the tour and then join Mr. Day for lunch afterwards in Annapolis to continue learning about the State House and the rich history that has unfolded there.

Free parking is available at the Calvert Street Garage at the corner of Rowe Boulevard and Calvert Street (yes, parking is free at the garages in Annapolis on the weekends!). Enter the garage from the back on St. John’s Street. The garage is just two blocks from the State House. We’ll meet inside the main door of the State House.