Buildings of Maryland

Maryland is known as Little America and America in Miniature for its geographical range, eighteenth-century architecture, and innovative transportation networks. Buildings of Maryland surveys over 500 representative sites, from tobacco plantations to modernist planned communities, charting the states history and architectural legacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2022
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

Maryland, often referred to as Little America and America in Miniature, boasts a diverse geographical range that encompasses the vast estuary of the Chesapeake Bay, stunning Atlantic beaches, fertile Piedmont Plateau, and rugged Allegheny Mountains. As one of the thirteen original colonies, Maryland is renowned for its eighteenth-century architecture, which showcases the architectural traditions brought by its European settlers. The capital, Annapolis, boasts some of colonial America's most iconic buildings, while more modest examples highlight the development of regional building types. Baltimore, the state's industrial powerhouse and architectural epicenter from the mid-nineteenth century onward, showcases a wide array of row houses that defined the city, as well as commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings created by some of the period's greatest designers. Maryland's unique blend of innovative transportation networks, Chesapeake culture, mountain resorts, and proximity to the nation's capital has also left its mark on the state's development.

Buildings of Maryland delves into a comprehensive survey of over 500 representative sites across the state. These sites range from tobacco plantations where enslaved laborers worked to free Black communities, maritime settlements along the Chesapeake Bay, traces of coal mining and railroad development in the mountains, and row house neighborhoods and streetcar suburbs to well-known modernist planned communities. In this accessible guidebook, readers will embark on a journey through a diverse array of places that chronicle Maryland's history and rich cultural heritage.

The State House and the Basilica of the Assumption, two iconic landmarks in Annapolis, stand as symbols of Maryland's political and religious significance. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, located in Baltimore, offer insights into the state's maritime history and the heroic efforts of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The U.S. Naval Academy and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in Annapolis, showcase the naval traditions and sports culture of the state. Columbia New Town and the Susquehanna Museum, in Columbia, showcase the state's commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation. Old Greenbelt and the Clara Barton House, in Greenbelt, pay tribute to the state's history of social activism and healthcare. Catoctin Mountain Park and Antietam National Battlefield, in Thurmont and Sharpsburg, respectively, offer glimpses into Maryland's military history and the pivotal Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War.

These buildings, and many more, serve as tangible reminders of Maryland's past and present, showcasing the state's architectural diversity, cultural heritage, and historical significance. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, exploring these sites provides a unique opportunity to learn about Maryland's rich history and appreciate its architectural beauty.

Dimension: 246 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813948041