Annapolis Guide 8.30.26 - Flipbook - Page 4
4 Annapolis Guide | Sunday, August 30, 2026
NEED TO KNOW
RICH WITH HISTORY
Fast facts about Anne Arundel County
By Sanya Wason
Anne Arundel County is swimming
with centuries’ worth of history. The
county houses Maryland’s state capital,
Annapolis, which is also the seat of the
county government.
Founded in 1650, the county was
named after Lady Anne Arundell, the
wife of Cecilius Calvert, the second
Lord of Baltimore.
In 1694, Annapolis was named the
capital of Maryland. The State House
was then built in 1779. For a brief period
from 1783 to 1784, Annapolis even
served as the capital of the United
States.
Much of the county’s eastern border
is made up of 533 miles of shoreline, and
most of its boundaries are defined by
water, principally the Chesapeake Bay.
After its founding, Annapolis was a
shipping port and point of entry for
many immigrants and ships carrying
people who were enslaved. It is also
known for its water-related recreational
activities and regularly hosts historic
ships in its harbor.
Off the bay, the county is also home to
the prestigious Naval Academy.
The United States Naval Academy
was founded in 1850. The Naval Academy first accepted women as midshipmen in 1976, when Congress authorized
the admission of women to all service
academies. The first academy football
game took place Dec. 11, 1879.
The county is also home to Fort Meade, which was established in 1917 and
used as a training center during World
War II.
According to the Fort Meade Alliance,
the base features forces from all military
branches. It has workers from more
than 115 government agencies and organizations, including the National Se-
The Naval Academy Class of 2029 is put to the test during the annual Sea Trials event.
Over approximately 14 hours, plebes move through a series of demanding stations
across the academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. PAUL W. GILLESPIE/STAFF
curity Agency.
The alliance said Fort Meade is Maryland’s largest employer and has the
third-largest workforce of any Army installation in the United States. There are
more than 56,000 service members and
civilians on the base.
Not far from Fort Meade is BWI Marshall Airport. President Harry S. Truman dedicated the airport, formerly
known as Friendship International Airport, in 1950.
On the cover: The view from the deck of the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s historic skipjack Wilma Lee. PAUL W. GILLESPIE/STAFF
Congregation Kol Shalom
Rabbi Faith Cantor
kolshalomannapolis@verizon.net
410-266-6006
• Egalitarian Conservative synagogue
with the Daniel Rothman Religious
School for grades K to 7
• Nature - based Tree of Life Preschool
accepting applications
• In-Person and Live-Stream Shabbat
Services
• Youth Group Activities for Middle and
High School Teens
• Extensive Congregant Participation
in All Services
• Weekly Live-Stream Adult Study
Sessions
1909 Hidden Meadow Lane
Annapolis, MD 21401
www.kolshalomannapolis.org
Barranco Severna Park
Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A.
Neighbors serving neighbors.
Helping families in the community heal since 1960.
Funerals - Cremations - Pre-Planning
www.barrancofuneralhome.com
410-647-2400
