Tucked away on Duke of Gloucester Street, behind St. Mary's Church, is the magnificent Charles Carroll House. The Carroll family is prominent in Maryland history, with towns and even a county bearing the legacy of their family name. Charles Carroll was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and was pivotal in the formation of the government of the fledgling United States. He was one of Maryland's first two congressmen, and a highly successful businessman. He led a full and active life, one of his last public acts was to lay the cornerstone for the B & O railroad at the age of 91.
If you tour the house you will learn many fascinating aspects of his life, and the political and religious history of Maryland. The grounds are a popular spot for wedding photographs. The mansion hosts seasonal fundraisers, such as chamber music and various dinners. Call or email to arrange private rentals.
Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center is a cultural arts and heritage center. It aims to preserve the Wiley H. Bates High School legacy, which, from 1932 to 1966, was the only high school open to African Americans in Anne Arundel County. It offers group tours as well as space available for rent.
Visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum to learn about the heritage and natural wonders of the Chesapeake Bay. The museum campus is the site of the last remaining oyster packing plant in the area, the McNasby Oyster Company building and is dedicated to educating the public and school students alike, of the importance of protecting, cultivating, and stimulating the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population. The museum hosts many school groups with it's interactive exhibits, waterman boats displayed to show their working parts, a giant interactive clam and an 850 gallon tank filled with Chesapeake Bay water and some of it's inhabitants. The museum hosts meetings, community events, lectures and concerts, and is the launching point for the tours to the iconic Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse -- the most famous symbol of the upper Chesapeake Bay. Available for private events, the museum has 3 piers to fish and crab from, along with a covered picnic deck. A small gift shop features shirts and artwork.