145 Fun Facts About Maryland That Will Surprise You

Maryland packs oceans, mountains, big history, and tasty food into one small state.

From the Chesapeake Bay and its blue crabs to Fort McHenry and wild beach horses, there’s something for everyone.

Dive in and discover why this Mid-Atlantic state punches far above its size.

Origins & name

1. Maryland became the 7th state of the United States on April 28, 1788.
2. The state was named for Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I of England.
3. Maryland’s colonial charter was granted in 1632 to Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore.
4. The first permanent settlement, St. Mary’s City, was founded in 1634 near the Potomac River.
5. Maryland is nicknamed the Old Line State, a tribute tied to the Maryland Line in the Revolutionary War.
6. Another nickname, the Free State, grew in popularity during debates over Prohibition in 1919.
7. Annapolis is the state capital and sits on the Severn River.
8. Baltimore is Maryland’s largest city and was founded in 1729.
9. Maryland surrounds the District of Columbia on three sides.
10. Baltimore City is an independent city and not part of any county.
11. Maryland has 23 counties plus Baltimore City as a county-equivalent.
12. The state motto is “Fatti maschii, parole femine,” often translated as “Strong deeds, gentle words.”

Geography & borders

13. Maryland borders Pennsylvania to the north along much of the Mason–Dixon Line.
14. It borders Delaware on the east across the Delmarva Peninsula.
15. Virginia lies to the south and west across the Potomac River.
16. West Virginia borders Maryland along parts of the Potomac and in the western panhandle.
17. The Chesapeake Bay splits Maryland into the Eastern Shore and the Western Shore.
18. Maryland’s highest natural point is Hoye-Crest on Backbone Mountain at 1,024 meters (3,360 feet).
19. The lowest point is sea level along the Atlantic coast.
20. Maryland’s narrowest point near Hancock is about 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles) wide between state lines.
21. The Fall Line crosses cities like Baltimore where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain.
22. The western third of Maryland lies within the Appalachian Mountains.
23. Assateague Island forms Maryland’s only ocean shoreline on the Atlantic.
24. Deep Creek Lake is Maryland’s largest inland lake and is man-made.
25. Maryland has no natural lakes.
26. The Patapsco River flows into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
27. The Susquehanna River enters the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace.
28. The Potomac River forms Maryland’s long southern boundary.
29. The Patuxent River runs entirely within Maryland from the Piedmont to the Bay.
30. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge protects wide tidal marshes on the Eastern Shore.
31. Point Lookout marks the tip of St. Mary’s County where the Potomac meets the Bay.
32. The Catoctin Mountain ridge crosses Frederick County with rocky overlooks and forested trails.

Chesapeake Bay & water

33. The Chesapeake Bay is about 322 kilometers (200 miles) long from the Susquehanna River to the Atlantic.
34. At its widest, the Bay stretches roughly 48 kilometers (30 miles) across.
35. The Bay’s watershed covers about 166,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles).
36. Blue crabs are cultural icons of Maryland’s Bay communities.
37. A single adult oyster can filter about 190 liters (50 gallons) of water per day.
38. Striped bass, called rockfish locally, is Maryland’s official state fish.
39. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans about 6.9 kilometers (4.3 miles) between Sandy Point and Kent Island.
40. Skipjacks are traditional sailboats once widely used to dredge oysters on the Bay.
41. Ospreys often build nests on navigation markers each spring.
42. The Bay’s salinity ranges from nearly fresh near river mouths to brackish in mid-Bay waters.
43. Calvert Cliffs expose fossil-rich Miocene sediments along the Western Shore.
44. Smith Island sits mid-Bay and is famed for a tall layered cake that became the state dessert.
45. The Bay can develop seasonal low-oxygen “dead zones” in deeper waters during summer.
46. Tangier Sound lies between Smith Island and the Eastern Shore’s marshy islands.
47. Kent Narrows connects the Chester River to Eastern Bay through a busy channel.
48. The Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River generates hydroelectric power just above the Bay.
49. Many shoreline communities use living shorelines to reduce erosion and support habitat.
50. Lighthouses like Thomas Point Shoal help guide vessels across the Bay’s shallow waters.

Wildlife & nature

51. Wild horses roam the beaches and dunes of Assateague Island in Maryland.
52. The diamondback terrapin lives in the Bay’s brackish marshes and creeks.
53. Bald eagles and ospreys are common raptors over tidal waters in warm months.
54. Black bears inhabit the forested mountains of western Maryland.
55. The Delmarva fox squirrel has habitat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
56. Sika deer, introduced from Asia, now live in marshes on the lower Eastern Shore.
57. Horseshoe crabs spawn on sandy beaches along Maryland’s coast.
58. Great blue herons stalk fish in shallow coves around the Bay.
59. The Baltimore checkerspot butterfly is Maryland’s official state insect.
60. White-tailed deer are widespread in both rural and suburban areas.
61. The Eastern box turtle is a familiar reptile in Maryland woodlands.
62. American shad migrate up the Susquehanna and other rivers to spawn in spring.
63. Pitch pines and American holly grow naturally on coastal barrier islands.
64. Mountain laurel blooms in late spring on ridges in western Maryland.
65. Red maples bring bright color to many Maryland forests each autumn.

History & firsts

66. Maryland was founded as a colony intended to be a haven for English Catholics.
67. In 1649 the Maryland Toleration Act granted freedom of worship to all Christians.
68. The colonial capital moved from St. Mary’s City to Annapolis in 1694.
69. The Maryland State House in Annapolis opened in 1772 and remains in legislative use.
70. The Continental Congress met in the Maryland State House from 1783 to 1784.
71. George Washington resigned his military commission in Annapolis on December 23, 1783.
72. The Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was ratified in Annapolis on January 14, 1784.
73. Fort McHenry in Baltimore inspired the words of the United States national anthem in 1814.
74. The National Road began construction in 1811 and reached Cumberland early in its westward route.
75. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal followed the Potomac for 297 kilometers (184.5 miles) between Washington and Cumberland.
76. The first long-distance telegraph message in 1844 was sent from Washington to Baltimore.
77. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered in 1827 to link the port of Baltimore with the interior.
78. Baltimore’s Great Fire in 1904 destroyed more than 1,500 buildings downtown.
79. The United States Naval Academy was established at Annapolis in 1845.
80. Antietam near Sharpsburg saw the bloodiest single day of the Civil War on September 17, 1862.
81. Harriet Tubman was born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and later led enslaved people to freedom.
82. Frederick Douglass was born in Talbot County and became a leading abolitionist and author.
83. Clara Barton’s later home and headquarters stand in Glen Echo, Maryland.
84. The Battle of Baltimore in 1814 ended with the successful defense of the harbor and Fort McHenry.
85. During the Civil War, Maryland stayed in the Union while permitting slavery until 1864.
86. Camp meetings and rail travel helped turn Ocean City into a seaside resort in the late 19th century.
87. Shipbuilding and canneries once drove many waterfront towns around the Bay.
88. The Wye Oak in Wye Mills became famous as a giant white oak before falling in a 2002 storm.
89. The Mason–Dixon survey of the 1760s settled colonial boundary disputes and later symbolized a North–South divide.
90. The Maryland State House once served as the nation’s capital when Congress met there in the 1780s.

Civil War & after

91. Maryland adopted a new state constitution in 1864 that abolished slavery.
92. A revised state constitution in 1867 still serves as Maryland’s governing charter.
93. A major teaching hospital opened in Baltimore in 1889 and grew into an influential medical center.
94. The Bromo Seltzer Tower rose over downtown Baltimore in 1911 as a distinctive clock tower.
95. The first span of the modern Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened to traffic in 1952.
96. A parallel Bay Bridge span opened in 1973 to increase capacity.
97. The 1904 fire helped prompt broader standards for firefighting equipment nationwide.
98. Interstate 95 runs through Baltimore and along Maryland’s northeastern edge.
99. Post-World War II growth expanded suburbs around both Washington and Baltimore.
100. Many federal campuses and research parks are located in Maryland’s close-in suburbs.

Transportation & innovation

101. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor transformed from working docks to a cultural and tourist district in the late 20th century.
102. Thurgood Marshall Baltimore/Washington International Airport serves central Maryland and the capital region.
103. MARC commuter rail links Washington, Baltimore, and Perryville with weekday service.
104. The Washington Metro extends rail service into several Maryland counties.
105. The Purple Line is a light-rail project intended to link Bethesda and New Carrollton.
106. Baltimore’s Light Rail and Metro Subway provide urban rail transit within the city.
107. The Fort McHenry Tunnel carries Interstate 95 under Baltimore Harbor for about 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles).
108. The Thomas J. Hatem Bridge carries U.S. Route 40 over the Susquehanna River.
109. A high bridge on U.S. 301 crosses the Potomac River between Charles County and Virginia.
110. The National Aquarium draws visitors to Baltimore’s waterfront with large aquatic exhibits.
111. The B&O Railroad Museum preserves historic locomotives and railcars in Baltimore.
112. The C&O Canal Towpath offers a long, mostly flat trail for hiking and biking along the Potomac.

Cities, towns & culture

113. Annapolis is often called the “Sailing Capital of the United States” for its boat-filled harbor.
114. Frederick’s “clustered spires” give the city a distinctive skyline.
115. Hagerstown sits at a transportation crossroads in the Cumberland Valley.
116. Ocean City features a long boardwalk and wide Atlantic beaches.
117. Cambridge on the Choptank River is a historic Eastern Shore port town.
118. Salisbury is the largest city on Maryland’s Eastern Shore by population.
119. Greenbelt was planned in the 1930s as a New Deal greenbelt community.
120. Silver Spring has grown into a major urban center just north of Washington.
121. Rockville serves as the seat of Montgomery County with a busy town center.
122. Bethesda is a major employment and dining hub adjacent to Washington.
123. Bowie began as a railroad town named for a 19th-century Maryland governor.
124. Ellicott City preserves milltown architecture along the hills of the Patapsco Valley.
125. Westminster anchors Carroll County with a traditional Main Street core.
126. The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore celebrates outsider and self-taught art.
127. The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore spans collections from ancient to modern.
128. The Peabody Institute has trained musicians in Baltimore since the 19th century.
129. The U.S. Naval Academy campus overlooks the Severn River with stately halls and parade grounds.
130. Many Maryland towns host summer seafood festivals that celebrate crabs and local harvests.

State symbols & identity

131. Maryland’s state bird is the Baltimore oriole.
132. The state flower is the Black-eyed Susan.
133. The state tree is the white oak.
134. The state dog is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
135. The state reptile is the diamondback terrapin.
136. The state insect is the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly.
137. The state crustacean is the blue crab.
138. The state dessert is Smith Island Cake, a tall multi-layered treat.
139. The official state sport is jousting at ring tournaments.
140. The official team sport is lacrosse.

Food & sports

141. Maryland crab cakes are usually made with lump blue crab meat and minimal filler.
142. Steamed blue crabs are often coated in a spicy seasoning blend and served with wooden mallets.
143. Pit beef is a Baltimore-area tradition of charcoal-grilled beef sliced thin for sandwiches.
144. The diamondback terrapin lends its name to a major university’s athletic teams.
145. Lacrosse has deep roots in Maryland’s high schools and colleges and draws enthusiastic spring crowds.

Quick FAQ

Q: What is Maryland most famous for?
A: Maryland is famous for the Chesapeake Bay, blue crabs, Fort McHenry, and a rich maritime heritage.

Q: What is the capital of Maryland?
A: Annapolis is the state capital.

Q: When did Maryland become a state?
A: Maryland became a state on April 28, 1788.

Q: Is Baltimore the capital of Maryland?
A: No, Baltimore is the largest city, while Annapolis is the capital.

Q: Does Maryland have mountains?
A: Yes, western Maryland includes Appalachian ridges with the highest point at Hoye-Crest.