Visiting Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County is known as the “land of pleasant living.”  Nearly 500,000 residents call Anne Arundel County home. Our superior quality of life on the Chesapeake Bay, our rich heritage, and proximity to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. make the County a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Enjoy living in or visiting Anne Arundel County....

Historic London Town and Gardens

National Historic Landmark on the South River, minutes from Annapolis. Dramatic waterfront setting with eight acres of woodland gardens. Archaeological digs on an ongoing basis.

House Tours: Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday)
839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
(410) 222-1919
www.historiclondontown.org

Benson-Hammond House

Early 19th century farmhouse built by Thomas Benson, on the National Register of Historic Places. Contains four period rooms, a museum and museum shop.

Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fee.
7101 Aviation Boulevard, Linthicum, MD 21090
(410) 768-9518

A local treasure, built in 1861, with hardwood floors, lofty ceilings and beautiful arched windows. Located at the intersection of Route 178 and Millersville Road.

Open by appointment
1358 Millersville Road, Millersville, MD 21108
(410) 923-3438

World War II Monument

Scenic Overlook, just north of the Naval Academy Bridge on Rt. 450. This memorial honors the 6,454 Marylanders who died in World War II. The four-sided open-air amphitheater features 48 gray granite pillars, representing the 48 states at the time of the war, and 22 panels of polished black granite, which are etched with the names of those lost. Offers unparalleled views of the United States Naval Academy.

Hours: Park open dawn to dusk.

All Hallows Episcopal Church

This historic church and parish dates from the 1660s. The current church was built in 1730. Mason Locke Weems, an early biographer of George Washington who invented the story of young George chopping down the cherry tree, was a rector.

Route 2 & Brick Church Road, Birdsville
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(410) 798-0808

Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church

Over 100 years old, this church is listed as one of the oldest church properties in Anne Arundel County and has been deemed a Historical Site. This house of worship has a rich history with a signature bell and a cemetery. Sunday school and worship service.

Open by appointment
1421 St. Stephens Church Road
Crownsville, MD 21032
(410) 721-3472

Captain Salem Avery House

Restored 1860 waterman's home and museum located on the West River. Exhibits include period furniture, historic boats and models and history of the area. Owned and operated by the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society.

Open Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., March - December
1418 East West Shady Side Road
Shady Side, MD 20764
(410) 867-4486
 www.averyhouse.org

Galesville Heritage Museum

Artifacts and memorabilia of local agricultural and maritime history are exhibited depicting over 350 years of this historic watermen’s village and the surrounding communities. The museum is house in the home of beloved teacher, Miss Carrie Weedon.

Hours: April - December Open Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment.
900 Main Street
Galesville MD 20765
(410) 867-2648

Historical Electronics Museum

Located on Nursery Road, the Historic Electronics Museum depicts the history of advanced electronic technology through an extensive display of equipment. Visitors can see the lunar TV camera that transmitted Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon and the German Enigma which encoded messages in World War II.

Open Monday through Friday 9  a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; closed holidays.
1745 West Nursery Road
Linthicum, MD
(410) 765-0230

The National Cryptologic Museum

The National Cryptologic Museum is the National Security Agency’s principal gateway to the public. It shares the Nation’s, as well as NSA’s, cryptologic legacy and place in world history. Located adjacent to NSA Headquarters, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland, the Museum collection contains thousands of artifacts that collectively serve to sustain the history of the cryptologic profession. Here visitors can catch a glimpse of some of the most dramatic moments in the history of American cryptology: the people who devoted their lives to cryptology and national defense, the machines and devices they developed, the techniques they used, and the places where they worked. For the visitor, some events in American and world history will take on a new meaning. For the cryptologic professional, it is an opportunity to absorb the heritage of the profession.

Monday  - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., 1st and 3rd Saturdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays
Colony Seven Road. Follow past the aircraft and Shell station into Museum parking lot.
(301) 688-5849

Hancock's Resolution

Built in 1784 -1785, this is an excellent example of early Chesapeake architecture and one of few existing stone buildings of that period in Anne Arundel County. During the War of 1812, it served as a signal point to warn Baltimore of the approaching British fleet. For 200 years, this was one of many farms that utilized Maryland's waterways to transport produce to Baltimore and other ports. Occupied by the Hancock's until 1962, it is now owned by Historic Annapolis Foundation, leased by Anne Arundel County and operated by  Friends of Hancock's Resolution (FOHR). Current plans include interpretation of historical architecture, early agricultural practices, and the War of 1812.

Open Sundays April - October. Call for hours and dates
2795 Bayside Beach Road
(one block from Bayside Beach)
Pasadena, MD 21122
(410) 222-7317

The Rising Sun Inn

The Rising Sun Inn (Circa 1753) restored and used by members of the Ann Arundel Chapter, DAR, as their chapter house, was one of the hip-roofed taverns of pre-Revolutionary days. It is situated nine miles above Annapolis on the historic post road known as General's Highway.
Puritans had settled the area in 1658 and in 1753, Charles Worthington deeded a part of a tract of the land knows as "Howard's First Choice" to Edward Baldwin, who bequeathed it to his sons, James and Henry, the latter's portion being known as "Rising Sun".

Alternately used as a private residence and as a tavern (the small tap room still remains), the historic building has passed through many hands. Finally in 1916, it (with 1/4 acre) was given by its last owner, R. Thomas Williams, to the Ann Arundel Chapter to be "maintained as an historical spot and structure or museum."

Open 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month
1090 General's Highway
Crownsville. MD
(410) 268-9249

Anne Arundel County Free School

First Free School for Anne Arundel County mandated by the colonial legislature in 1723. Restored to the 1820 period with furnishings, materials and artifacts. Owned by the Board of Education, care and guide services are by the Anne Arundel Retired Teachers Association.

Open Sundays 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. , Mid-May - October
1298 Lavall Drive
(Community of Lavall)
Davidsonville, MD 21035
(410) 647-3126, (410) 573-0840

Hartge Nautical Museum

The Hartge Nautical Museum was formed to collect and preserve artifacts and records of the past relating to the boats and people of the West River and Chesapeake Bay.

It contains a unique collection of models of boats built there. You can view tools, drawings, books, maps and charts, as well as stories dating back to 1832 when Henry Hartge arrived in Baltimore and began building pianos. The museum shares the story of the transition from pianos to boats in what is the oldest working boatyard on the Chesapeake Bay.

Throughout the yard, you'll find plaques depicting the growth, the people and the history of this historic boatyard.

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. by appointment
Located at the end of Church Lane on the grounds of Hartge Yacht Yard Galesville, Maryland (410) 268-1837

St. James' Parish

In 1692, St. James' Parish, Old Herring Creeke, was officially established when the Maryland Assembly, acting on the orders of Sir Lionel Copely, Royal Governor of Maryland, enacted the Act of Establishment. In 1695, the vestry ordered a church built on the present site. The Rev. Henry Hall was called as the first rector, and remained at St. James' until his death in 1722.
When the old church became inadequate for the needs of the parish in 1763, the vestry ordered that a new church be built. It was completed in 1765, and continues to serve the congregation today.

Open Daylight hours
MD Route 2 and MD Route 258
Lothian, MD
(410) 867-2838

Herrington Harbour North’s Historic Village

Herrington Harbour North’s Historic Village is an effort  to preserve local vernacular architecture from the Nineteenth Century that would otherwise be lost to development. The village is a work in progress with buildings in various stages of restoration. When completed, the village will have exhibits, furniture, photographs and landscaping typical of the Nineteenth Century. Visitors will get a glimpse of how average people lived in this area 150 years ago. On special occasions, there will be live demonstrations and interactive exhibits at this countryside setting.

Outside viewing during daylight hours
389 Deale Road
Deale, MD
(410) 867-4343

See the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau for more information!