Historic Annapolis

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Historic Annapolis Historic Annapolis ensures the legacy of Annapolis’s past will continue to enrich the city’s future. Check out what's going on at annapolis.org.

Exciting events and programs for the entire family throughout the year. Museum of Historic Annapolis
99 Main Street | 410.990.4754
For Hours and to Book Your Entry: museum.annapolis.org


William Paca House & Garden
186 Prince George Street | 410.990.4543
For Hours and to Book Your Entry: www.annapolis.org/other/visit-paca-house


Hogshead Trades Museum
43 Pinkney Street | 410.990.4543
For Hours: www.annapolis.org/contact/hogshead

A small piece of wood with a big story. 🪵In 1973, during restoration work at the William Paca House, Bob Bennett was app...
10/23/2026

A small piece of wood with a big story. 🪵

In 1973, during restoration work at the William Paca House, Bob Bennett was apprenticed to a carpenter and working with the team as parts of the house were being carefully dismantled and restored. During that work, this wooden shingle was removed from the second floor, where it had been used as a fish-scaled shim to help support a beam along the hallway near the hall chamber.

Bob saved the piece for more than 50 years and recently returned it to Historic Annapolis. He believes it may be made of golden cypress or white pine.

We’re grateful to Bob for sharing both the shingle and the story behind it—and for helping preserve another small but meaningful piece of the William Paca House’s restoration history.

🥩 : How would you roast mutton in 1788?This 1788 recipe gives surprisingly detailed instructions for preparing differen...
10/23/2026

🥩 : How would you roast mutton in 1788?

This 1788 recipe gives surprisingly detailed instructions for preparing different cuts of mutton and lamb. A loin, “chine,” or saddle could be roasted with the skin raised and skewered back into place. Near the end of cooking, the skin was removed and the meat was basted and dusted with flour to help it “froth up.”

Other cuts of lamb and mutton were roasted over a quick, clear fire, basted from the beginning, sprinkled with salt, and finished with another dusting of flour.
And the garnish? The recipe recommends horseradish with mutton and “creases, or small sallading” with lamb.

The saddle of lamb on our fall dining table at the William Paca House offers a glimpse at a style of presentation that was fashionable in the 18th century.
Would you try this 1788 preparation?

Last night, Historic Annapolis welcomed Preservation Architect and Saving Slave Houses Founding Director Jobie Hill for ...
10/22/2026

Last night, Historic Annapolis welcomed Preservation Architect and Saving Slave Houses Founding Director Jobie Hill for the 2026 Orlando Ridout V Memorial Lecture, Bearing Witness to Our Ancestors’ Legacies.

Through her work at Pharsalia Plantation in Nelson County, Virginia, Jobie explored how architecture, archival research, descendant engagement, oral histories, and community storytelling can deepen our understanding of the lives of enslaved people and the lasting legacy of historic sites of slavery.

Thank you to Jobie for sharing her important work, to the Maryland Historical Trust for partnering with us on the Orlando Ridout V Memorial Lecture Series, and to everyone who joined us for this thoughtful evening of preservation and history.

“Progress isn't built on perfection, it's built on persistence.”These powerful words, shared by Dr. Mark Bedell, AACPL S...
10/22/2026

“Progress isn't built on perfection, it's built on persistence.”

These powerful words, shared by Dr. Mark Bedell, AACPL Superintendent at the October 14 unveiling of the new Malcolm X monument at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library, remind us that the pursuit of freedom and equal rights is an ongoing journey.

On November 1, 1864, Maryland adopted a new state constitution that abolished slavery, marking a pivotal moment in our state's history. Yet the struggle for equal rights continues, as generations that followed have continued to challenge injustice and work to create a more equitable future for all.

As we approach Maryland Emancipation Day, Historic Annapolis invites you to explore these important stories at the Museum of Historic Annapolis.
Join us on Sunday, November 1, for special guided tours highlighting African American history and the community leaders who helped shape Annapolis. Families can also enjoy hands-on activities and explore a special Book Nook featuring children's titles curated by our partners at Anne Arundel County Public Library!

📅 Sunday, November 1 | Tours at 11:30 am & 1:30 pm
📍 Museum of Historic Annapolis | 99 Main Street
🎟️ Included with Museum admission; pre-registration encouraged.

Discover the stories of freedom, resilience, and persistence that continue to shape our community.

Learn more and register: https://www.annapolis.org/event/emancipation-day-tour-2026/

The William Paca House & Garden currently displays a collection of memorial jewelry, on loan from a private lender. Item...
10/21/2026

The William Paca House & Garden currently displays a collection of memorial jewelry, on loan from a private lender. Items include portrait miniatures, brooches, earrings, and rings—some of which contain woven hair from the deceased. These pieces served as cherished keepsakes to remember loved ones after their death.

Be sure to check them out in person during our specialty tour, “Very Superstitious! A History of Luck, Lore, & Beliefs.” Learn more and book your tour here: https://www.annapolis.org/events/

We’re excited to share that Historic Annapolis was just recognized with an Accessibility award for its commitment to exp...
10/20/2026

We’re excited to share that Historic Annapolis was just recognized with an Accessibility award for its commitment to expanding accessibility and inclusion across our historic properties and programs!

Historic Annapolis has made significant physical accessibility improvements, including accessible entrances, elevator access at the Museum of Historic Annapolis, and improved access at the William Paca House and Garden.

We have also introduced ASL-interpreted tours and alternative experiences, including virtual tour options, to help ensure visitors with disabilities can meaningfully engage with Annapolis’ history.

Historic Annapolis is also KultureCity certified, with both the Museum of Historic Annapolis and the William Paca House and Garden designated as sensory-inclusive locations. Staff receive training to support visitors with sensory needs, and sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, communication cards, and other resources are available.

Thank you to the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities and Commission on Disability Issues for this honor!

10/19/2026

We love seeing visitors explore the beauty and history of Annapolis!

Thank you to Get Full Care for sharing these wonderful moments from your visit to the William Paca House & Garden!

Planning a group outing? Discover our group tour opportunities and experience Annapolis history together!

👉 https://www.annapolis.org/visit/group-tours/

| Can You Spot the Difference?You’ve probably seen Historic Annapolis’s familiar octagonal markers around downtown—but...
10/19/2026

| Can You Spot the Difference?

You’ve probably seen Historic Annapolis’s familiar octagonal markers around downtown—but did you know the colors tell a story, too?

Historic Annapolis uses a color-coded system to identify different architectural periods, while the brass inset on each marker shares the building’s name, construction date, and architectural style. Today, more than 300 properties in Annapolis have historic markers.

Here’s what the colors mean: Red for Georgian architecture, Bronze for Georgian buildings of national importance, Blue for Federal, Green for Greek Revival, Purple for Victorian-era architecture, Gray for 19th–20th century Annapolis vernacular, Yellow for distinctive 20th-century architecture, and Hybrid markers for buildings that combine more than one architectural style.

And the program continues to grow! Historic Annapolis also offers a Little Marker Program for eligible buildings more than 50 years old, located within Annapolis city limits, but outside the Annapolis National Historic Landmark District.

Interested in learning whether your property may qualify for a marker? Visit our Historic Marker Program page to learn more about the program and how to get started:
https://www.annapolis.org/preservation/historic-markers/

Next time you’re walking through Annapolis, take a closer look. 👀 How many different types of markers did you spot? Which color do you see most often?

10/19/2026

Spend a relaxed fall afternoon in the William Paca Garden with live music from the Annapolis Jazz Collective.

Stroll through the garden, enjoy the autumn air, and settle in for smooth, soulful jazz in a welcoming, family-friendly setting. A cash w**e bar will also be available for guests 21+.

Sunday, October 25
3–5 pm
William Paca House & Garden

$25 General Admission; $20 HA Members & Military; $10 children 17 and under
Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

See their website to register!

“Remember the yesterdays” of African American community, history, and entertainment in Maryland. Join Baltimore author, ...
10/16/2026

“Remember the yesterdays” of African American community, history, and entertainment in Maryland.

Join Baltimore author, journalist, and musician Rosa “Rambling Rose” Pryor-Trusty at the Museum of Historic Annapolis as she shares stories and images from African American Community, History & Entertainment in Maryland. Explore memories of restaurants, bowling alleys, media personalities, jazz musicians, beaches, and other cultural highlights from the 1940s through the 1980s.

The program will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

📅 Saturday, October 24
🕐 1–2:30 pm
📍 Museum of Historic Annapolis
🎟️ $7 General Admission; free for HA Members, Military, and children 17 and under

Learn more and register: https://www.annapolis.org/event/meet-the-author-rosa-pryor-trusty/

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99 Main Street
Annapolis, MD
21401

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