The Official Site of the Maryland Office of Tourism

Military history echoes from 18th-century onward in state

BALTIMORE (Oct. 28) – George Washington called the Maryland regiments that were part of the Continental Army his “Old Line” – a term of admiration that became one of the state’s nicknames. In that same tradition of paying tribute to Maryland’s military veterans, the state’s Office of Tourism encourages travelers to visit the various locations in Maryland where military history resonates during this Veterans Day holiday and the weeks that follow.

Veterans Day parades are an obvious choice. On Sunday, Nov. 6, Brunswick (Frederick County) presents its 79th annual parade – one of the longest-running parades in the state. Known for its railroad heritage, Brunswick is six miles east of Harpers Ferry, Va. Also on Nov. 6, the Southern Maryland town of LaPlata (Charles County) stages its annual parade.

Another Southern Maryland town, Leonardtown (St. Mary’s County) has its 34th annual Veterans Day parade on the actual day of the holiday, Nov. 11. Organizers say their parade is the largest such parade in the state. And, Bel Air (Harford County) plans a two-day celebration, Nov. 10 – 11, with the parade on Nov.11.

“It is our duty as citizens to recognize America’s veterans for their dedicated service and level of sacrifice, especially on Veterans Day,” says Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown. “We are also proud that Maryland has so many attractions and destinations that are open year-round to honor the legacy of our veterans.”

Below are more than a dozen places and routes in Maryland – open year-round – that have exhibits and locations tied to military history. In addition to highlighting wars of the 20th century and beyond, they also connect with earlier conflicts, such as the Civil War and War of 1812.

“There are great ways for travelers to trace history, while exploring our varied landscape,” says Margot Amelia, executive director of the state’s tourism office. “For instance, you can visit a cluster of wineries around Frederick, a Civil War crossroads, or explore one waterfront village to another during a trip to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Southern Maryland.”

• Allegany Museum, Cumberland (Allegany County) – An anchor attraction in the Canal Place Heritage Area, the museum presents a World War II display, Cumberland Goes to War, Nov. 3-6. An opening reception is free and open to the public on Nov. 3, 7 p.m. The museum has 50,000 items in a dozen collections that depict the region’s heritage. Admission is free.

• Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg (Washington County) – On Sept. 17, 1862, the Battle of Antietam raged for 12 hours as 500 cannon fired more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition. This Civil War conflict turned into the deadliest one-day battle in American history, with more than 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing. Join a park ranger for a “battlefield talk,” take a self-guided hike or bike ride, or tour by car.

• Civil War Trails – This collection of trails feature: the emergence of the war’s first bloodshed during the “Baltimore Riots” (Baltimore, A House Divided); the routes of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland (Antietam Campaign); marches of Union and Confederate troops during the Gettysburg Campaign (Gettysburg: Invasion and Retreat); and an attempted escape route (John Wilkes Booth, Escape of an Assassin).

• College Park Aviation Museum, College Park Airport (Prince George’s County) – The museum is on the grounds of the oldest, continuously operating airport in the world, which opened in 1909 when Wilbur Wright trained military aviators there. Pioneers on the Paint Branch: The Soldiers and Pilots of the First Army Aviation School is an interactive exhibit that runs through Jan. 1, 2012.

• Fort Frederick State Park, near Big Pool (Washington County) – The star-shaped fort was built by the colony of Maryland in 1756 to protect western inhabitants and as a base to attack French strongholds in the Ohio River valley. At Picketing the Potomac, Fort Frederick in the Civil War, Nov. 5-6, re-enactors show what life was like 150 years ago. The park is a half-mile from the Western Maryland Rail Trail.

• Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore – The star-shaped fort – birthplace of the National Anthem – famously withstood a British bombardment in Sept. 1814. A new, expanded visitor center has exhibits and an orientation film. The Fort McHenry Guard presents living-history depictions of life during the War of 1812, artillery demonstrations and other programs.

• Historic Ships in Baltimore – This collection of military vessels – located within walking distance of each other by the Inner Harbor – includes the U.S.S. Constellation, U.S.S. Torsk (submarine), U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney and Lightship Chesapeake. The Taney was the last U.S. ship in commission that had survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941.

• Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard (Calvert County) – Located on a peninsula along the Patuxent River, "Jef Pat" is a 560-acre property with 70 archaeological sites. The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory, which houses 8 million artifacts, is here. During the War of 1812, just off-shore, Joshua Barney led his “Chesapeake Flotilla” – an assortment of barges and gunboats – against the British in Maryland's largest-ever naval battle.

• Monocacy National Battlefield, Frederick (Frederick County) – This was the site of the only Confederate victory on Union soil during the Civil War. In 1864, 15,000 Confederate troops were advancing toward the nation’s capital when they encountered resistance from 6,500 Union troops at Monocacy Junction – a significant rail hub. The conflict, however, delayed the Confederate march and became known as “The Battle That Saved Washington, D.C.”  Five walking trails are here. The visitor center has interactive and multi-media exhibits.

• National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick (Frederick County) – Dedicated to the legacy of Civil War medical innovation, the museum has five galleries and more than 1,200 artifacts. Modern military medicine evolved out of the war with the development of triage, evacuation and medical supply systems. Frederick is a crossroads for tracing Civil War history in the region.

• Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Lexington Park (St. Mary’s County) – In 1937, the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics recognized its need for a base where the testing of Navy aircraft could be consolidated. A location in St. Mary’s County was selected. The advent of Pearl Harbor accelerated the process. Patuxent River Naval Air Base opened in 1943. The museum preserves the history of the base and the evolution of Naval air technology. For a $10 fee, take a 30-minute spin in the cockpit of a flight simulator.

• Star-Spangled Banner Trail – Stretching from Solomons in Southern Maryland up to Baltimore, the trail traces the route of British invasion forces during the War of 1812’s Chesapeake Campaign. The Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons has artifacts recovered from one of the American gunboats engaged in the Battles of St. Leonard Creek. After moving up the Patuxent River, attacking at Bladensburg, then sacking Washington, D.C., the British encountered stiff resistance in the pivotal Battle of Baltimore.

• U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis (Anne Arundel county) – The academy started in 1845 as the Naval School at Fort Severn, where 50 students attended classes on a 10-acre campus. In 1850, it became the U.S. Naval Academy, and since then, it has expanded into a 338-acre complex that accommodates 4,500 midshipmen. The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center and U.S. Naval Academy Museum are on the grounds. Public tours are available.

Previous themes
In October, the state's tourism office highlighted museums with free admission. Previous monthly themes have focused on: Chesapeake Bay seafood; national parks in Maryland; local river outfitters; biking in Maryland; quirky and unique destinations; notable women in the state's history; Maryland's chocolatiers; the state's colonial heritage; outdoor adventure; lighthouses; buying local; girls' getaways; prominent gardens; bed and breakfasts; and Chesapeake Bay art.

To receive free Maryland travel information - Destination Maryland, Maryland Calendar of Events and a state highway map - by mail, call 800-719-5900. More information is available on the tourism office's web site, VisitMaryland.org.

About Maryland tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts within the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Recently reported visitor data shows that the state welcomed more than 32 million visitors in 2010. In 2009, visitors spent nearly $13.7 billion on travel-related expenses – generating close to $1.6 billion in state and local taxes and providing 134,000 jobs to Maryland residents.