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Maryland - The Old Line State
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From the Chesapeake Bay,
to the Eastern Shore, to our
historic state capital of Annapolis, to the Allegheny Mountains -- there
is a lot to see in Maryland. Here are some of the very interesting facts
and symbols of the "Free State": |
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Capital: |
Annapolis |
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Statehood:
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April 28, 1788 (The Seventh State) |
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Motto: |
Fatti maschil parole
femine - Manly deeds womanly words. |
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Origin of Name: |
Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I |
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Nicknames: |
“Old Line State” (General Smallwood’s
“Maryland Line” stood firm against British troops during the 1776 Battle
of Long Island) and “Free State” (Coined during Prohibition by a Baltimore
Sun editor who argued against prohibiting the sale of liquor) |
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Area: |
12,193 miles, ranks 42nd in the nation and
includes the Chesapeake Bay, America’s largest estuary (source: Maryland
Geological Survey) |
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Bordering States: |
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West
Virginia |
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Coastline: |
31 miles |
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Economy: |
Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and
eggs, dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans, corn.
Industry: Electric equipment, food
processing, chemical products, printing and publishing, transportation
equipment, machinery, primary metals, coal, tourism. |
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Highest Point: |
Backbone Mountain, 3,360 feet above sea level
in the Allegheny Mountains |
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Population: |
The population of Maryland has steadily
grown over the years. See:
U.S. Census Bureau for considerable information. |
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Time Zone: |
Eastern, Daylight-Saving Time |
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Sales Tax: |
5% (A 1% to 13% lodging and amusement tax also
may be imposed) |
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Phone Calls: |
Dial the three-digit area code (240, 301, 410
or 443) plus the seven-digit phone number. |
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State Symbols: |
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State Flag:
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The Maryland flag contains the family
crest of the Calvert and Crossland families. Maryland was founded as an English
colony in 1634 by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. The black and Gold
designs belong to the Calvert family. The red and white design belongs to the
Crossland family.
See: Protocol
for the Maryland Flag |
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State Seal:
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The Great Seal of
Maryland is used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to
authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other official purposes.
The first Great Seal was sent from England shortly after settlement
of the colony.
Except for the period of crown rule (1692-1715) when different
seals were used, the first Great Seal remained in use, though slightly
altered, until the American Revolution. The State of Maryland then adopted
a new seal similar in form and spirit to those of other states. One
hundred years later, Maryland readopted its old seal (Joint Resolution no.
5, Acts of 1876).
Only the reverse of this seal has ever been cut. The obverse,
however, is still considered part of the seal and often adorns public
buildings.
The front of the seal (called the reverse side) shows a shield,
bearing the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. Above is an earl's
coronet and a full-faced helmet. The shield is supported on one side by a
farmer and on the other by a fisherman. They symbolize Lord Baltimore's
two estates: Maryland, and Avalon in Newfoundland. The Calvert motto on
the scroll is Fatti maschii parole femine, and means "strong deeds,
gentle words." The Latin words on the border mean "with favor wilt thou
compass us as with a shield." The date, 1632, refers to the year the
Maryland charter was granted by Charles I, King of England, to Cecilius
Calvert, second Lord Baltimore.
The other side (called the obverse side) of the Seal shows Lord
Baltimore as a knight in full armor mounted on a charger. The inscription
translated is "Cecilius, Absoulute Lord of Maryland and Avalon, Baron
of Baltimore." |
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State Bird:
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The Baltimore
Oriole (Icterus galbula) is the official Maryland bird (Chapter 54,
Acts of 1947). Special provisions have been made for its protection
(Chapter 154, Acts of 1882; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-302).
The oriole's plumage of black and gold, the same colors as in the
Calvert shield, led to its early association with the name of the
proprietor. In 1698, "Baltimore Birds" were among the "Beasts of
Curiosity" ordered sent from Maryland to grace the royal gardens. |
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State Boat:
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Skipjack, the last working boat under sail in
North America, used for dredging oysters in the Chesapeake Bay |
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State Cat: |
Calico, with colors resembling the Maryland
flag |
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State Crustacean:
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Maryland blue crab |
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State Dog:
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In 1964, the
Chesapeake Bay Retriever, named after the famous bay region of the breed's
origin, was declared the official dog of Maryland (Chapter 156, Acts of
1964; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-303).
A working dog bred to recover waterfowl for hunters, the
Chesapeake Bay Retriever is one of only a few breeds actually developed in
the United States.
Retrievers excel in field and obedience trials. These dogs are
characterized by their versatility, strength, endurance, and loyal
devotion.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are found working with drug enforcement
agencies, as service dogs, and visiting hospitals and nursing homes. Some
are trained for search and rescue work, even as avalanche or sled dogs. |
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State Dinosaur: |
Astrodon johnstoni, “star tooth,” which lived
between 95 and 130 million years ago |
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State Drink: |
In 1998, milk was
designated the State drink of Maryland (Chapter 220, Acts of 1998).
Found primarily in Frederick and Washington counties, most
Maryland milk cows are Holsteins and can be recognized by their large
black and white spots.
In 1997, Maryland had some 86,000 milk cows throughout the State.
Daily, a single cow can produce up to 8 gallons of milk, consume
about 80 pounds of feed, and drink 30 to 40 gallons of water. Milked twice
a day, Maryland cows produced 1.3 billion pounds of milk in 1997. |
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State Fish:
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The rockfish or
striped bass (Roccus saxatilis 2) was designated the official fish
of the State of Maryland in 1965 (Chapter 513, Acts of 1965; Code State
Government Article, sec. 13-304).
The rockfish, known also as the striped bass, is considered by many
to be the premier sport and commercial species on the Bay. The
silver-flanked, irridescent-striped rockfish is a challenge to catch and a
delight to eat. |
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State Flower:
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Black-eyed Susan, with black and gold coloring
and a blossom of 13 petals |
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State Fossil
Shell: |
Ecphora quadricostata, an extinct Chesapeake
Bay snail |
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State Insect:
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Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, with orange
and white spots on a black base |
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State Sport:
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Jousting, which requires horseback riders to
spear small, suspended rings State Folk Dance: Square dancing |
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State Reptile: |
Diamondback terrapin, also the University of
Maryland College Park mascot |
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State Song: |
The nine-stanza poem, "Maryland, My
Maryland," was written by James Ryder Randall in 1861. A native of
Maryland, Randall was teaching in Louisiana in the early days of the Civil
War, and he was outraged at the news of Union troops being marched through
Baltimore. The poem articulated Randall's Confederate sympathies. Set to
the traditional tune of "Lauriger Horatius" ("O, Tannenbaum"), the song
achieved wide popularity in Maryland and throughout the South.
"Maryland, My Maryland" was adopted as the State song in 1939
(Chapter 451, Acts of 1939; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-307).
Maryland, My Maryland
I.
The despot's heel is on thy shore, Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door, Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of
yore, Maryland! My Maryland!
II.
Hark to an exiled son's appeal, Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel, Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal, Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird they beauteous
limbs with steel, Maryland! My Maryland!
III.
Thou wilt not cower in the dust, Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust, Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust, Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all they slumberers
with the just, Maryland! My Maryland!
IV.
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day, Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array, Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray, With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and
dashing May, Maryland! My Maryland!
V.
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong, Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong, Maryland!
Come to thine own heroic throng, Stalking wtih Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan
song, Maryland! My Maryland!
VI.
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain, Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain, Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain- "Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions
back again, Maryland! My Maryland!
VII.
I see the blush upon thy cheek, Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek, Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek From hill to fill,
from creek to creek- Potomac calls to
Chesapeake, Maryland! My Maryland!
VIII.
Thou wilt not yield the vandal toll, Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control, Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot,
the bowl, Than crucifixion of the
soul, Maryland! My Maryland!
IX.
I hear the distant thunder-hum, Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum, Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb- Huzza! she spurns
the Northern scum! She breathes! she
burns! she'll come! she'll come! Maryland! My Maryland! |
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State Tree: |
In 1941, Maryland
designated the White Oak (Quercus alba) as the State Tree (Chapter
731, Acts of 1941; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-310). Handsome
and sturdy, the white oak is named for its whitish bark and grey twigs.
The species is found commonly throughout the state.
This beautiful tree, which represents the State Tree of Maryland,
is called the Wye Oak and stands at Wye Mills on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
It is more than 100 feet high and has a branch spread of 165 feet. It is
one of the largest in the world.
The Wye Oak - The largest White Oak in the United States. Estimated
to be 400 years old (1940). Deeded to the State of Maryland Sept. 20,
1939. |
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