Today we have the House of Delegates chambers to match the State Senate chambers yesterday.

From his trip to annapolis, Bryan today offers us a shot of the Maryland state senate chambers.

Todays inaporopriate road sign comes from bryan in towson who spied this one on rt 50 outside the bay bridge.

We’ll ease into this week with a relief from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Thanks to Bryan for sending along today’s picture, which he took as he was participating in the recent inauguration .

From inside the State House, we have the replica of the flag that flew from the building when it was home to the United States government.  The original flag was designed by an Annapolis man named John Shaw, whose name is used to describe the flag.  It’s interesting because, though the original was commissioned specifically to welcome the federal government to Annapolis and though it flew during a historically significant period, all traces of it are lost.

This isn’t the first replica of the John Shaw flag.  As there were no detailed descriptions of the flag or plans from Shaw, the first replica of this flag was based on the best knowledge available.  The true form of the flag was discovered in a painting, but only after the first replica was made.

I’ll include a link at the end to the Washington Post article depicting the efforts to correct the original reproduction, and the discovery the first reproduction was incorrect.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203917.html

Pictured here is the official flag of the City of Annapolis.   The motto translated into english is, “I have lived free and will die free,” or “I have lived free and will die so.”  The crown represents Queen Anne, for whom the town is named.  The flowers represent the royal families of the time, the Tudors and the Stuarts.  

Of course I found this on a sailboat, as I am convinced you can find almost any flag you desire flying from at least one mast in Annapolis. 

This shot was taken right next to Joe Cannon stadium, just a church at sunset.  I promise I’ll stop with these sunset pictures, and get back to deeper topics on Maryland culture and history very soon.

For anyone who has ever heard of the town of Dorsey, MD there’s only a few things that can come to mind when they hear the name: Industrial Parks, a MARC Station, being close to a mall, and the Timbuk 2 restaraunt (home of some delicious and giant crab cakes) 

This is the MARC station, which is not so interesting in its relation to the railroad, but is interesting becasue of the clock tower with the squared flag elements. 

I had generally only passed by here on my way to the mall, but as I mentioned yesterday, I had to pick somebody up there and that finally gave me the opportunity to get close to the building. 

While waiting in my car to pick up someone at a Marc station, I realized that I had a lot of time to kill. So I opened my ADC map and looked for some MDP points of interest.  I came across this place.  I had no idea what to really expect when the map told me there was a stadium nearby, so this was a bit of a suprise.   

It  turns out that this stadium is home to the BCCC and Coppin State baseball teams.  It’s also used for many many different high school games, including the AA county championships.  In addition it’s home to a number of adult baseball programs.  

I took a flight out of BWI yesterday and got some great photos of Maryland from the sky.  However, I haven’t downloaded them yet.  So for the time being I’m offering this teaser shot of the terminal with the promise that exciting new photos are landing soon.

This picture comes to us from corresponding photographer Brett.  It was taken in Quiet Waters park in Annapolis.  The park, despite its name, is quite dog friendly.  In fact a simple google search of the park reveals the quote “My dog loves it here.”

I believe that in the background you can see Wilson, but I don’t know who is in the foreground. 

At many schools the teams mascot is related to the name of the team.  That would include Testudo of the Terrapins, or the Hopkins Blue Jay.  Though players on Naval Academy teams are known as Midshipmen, the academy’s mascot is not a sailor.  The mascot is Bill the Goat, a live goat who is immortalized here in bronze. 

From its paint scheme alone, one could almost confuse this ship with the Pride of Baltimore. However, this is the figurehead to the Schooner Sultana, based in Chestertown, in Kent County.  The 97′ schooner was built in 2001, as a replica of “the smallest schooner ever in the British Royal Navy. 

You can go to Schooner Sultana for more info on its educational mission. 

You can also go to Flickr for pictures of its construction.

Here’s a picture from the airplane observation area at BWI, which is located on the southside of the airport right in front of one of the main runways.    This area is actually called the Thomas A Dixon Jr. Aircraft Observation area, and its home of a pleasant area to see planes land or take off.   I was there on a day when they were taking off, which is slightly less preferable to seeing them land as they gain altitude rather quickly when taking off.  

Thi is the Shiplap house in Annapolis.  It is one of the, if not the absolute, oldest buildings in the historic downtown area.    It was built in 1715 and named after the material useed to side sailing ships and which was used to side part of the house itself.  Appropriately, the man who used to live there, cut lumber for ships and also ran a tavern out of the house.  

It has changed hands a few times and is now home to a the Historic Annapolis Foundation. 

This is one of the piers on the grounds of the US Naval Academy that the midshipmen use for training.  This picture was taken on a quiet and windy saturday afternoon in the summer, so there were not many people around and plenty of picture-taking opportunities.  In addition to this pier, there are quite a few more entries into the water on the campus, and also a walking trail that goes around the perimeter of the grounds along the water. 

Here’s a shot of the state flag hanging proudly from a sailboat in Annapolis.  Still no internet in the Maryland Daily Photoquarters, so sorry again for the late post.  

Here’s a shot which I took from a great distance of one of the doors of the State House in Annapolis.  I was going to use this in conjunction with a good line like, “hope your new year opens the door to future success” or “…as we close the door on 2008,” but I’ve decided not to.   2008 was a great year to start MDP and I’m looking forward to some good sight seeing and photo taking in 2009.  

For Election Day, we have a picture of an American flag hanging from a lamppost in Annapolis. 

For 125 years, this has been the home of the Governor of Maryland.   It is located on state circle, but outside the circle, which is occupied by this building. It was built in 1870, and since that day this building has hosted the executives of Maryland, the Royalty of England, famous works of art, and much more. 

Today’s photo comes from guest photographer Trish, who was also kind enough to tell us a little bit about the farm.   Boyer farm has some interesting history to it.  It’s been growing peaches and pumpkins and wartermelons and other wonderful stuff since the late 1800s. 

The peach trees and the verdant acres, located right in the middle of housing subdivisions, have always been a refreshing staple to the town of Severn, Maryland. 

  You could always pull over the side of the road or walk there when you watched to check out the produce and the farm has always supplied the local community with a fresh crop of pumpkins every fall.  Unfortunately, the 52-acre farm has been sold to developers to make way for townhouses.  Mr. Boyer, who still lives in a house on the outskirts of the farm with family, says he’s getting old and just can’t maintain it (Although I think the age of 54 is still rather young).  Either way, something like this was bound to happen, as the opening of the mega-mall Arundel Mills has shot up the property value of the surrounding area (Boyer’s farm is just a five minute drive away). 

For some more information about the sale, you can go here.

This is the memorial to those who died aboard the 52 US submarines sunk during World War II.  It sits on the grounds of the Naval Academy.

We’ll end the week of parking with a shot of boats parked at the Naval Academy.   Have a great weekend. 

The Oldest State House in the nation still in legislative use. 

Capital of the United States from November 1983-August 1984.  

Location where Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War.

Available in Larger Sizes: state-house-large.jpg

The “dome” is made of Cypress, brought from the eastern shore, and there were no nails used to put it together. 

When they replaced the acorn at the base of the lightning rod they had people create 32 different picees of it all across the state and then assembled it at the top. 

Well, yesterday’s contest didn’t last too long, but I’m glad that Captain Jen came to the site to add some professional authority to our contest.   (Also, AJ, you got it right too, congratulations.)  

So, I didn’t get a chance to actually sail on Satuday when the picture was taken, but I’m certainly going out next time I’m in Annapolis.   I spend most of my workday looking out my window yearning to be on a boat, so this will be a great chance to do so.  It would appear as though all of these folks are enjoying themselves. 

Today’s picture features the Woodwind, sister ship to the Woodwind II from yesterday. 

You might recognize this boat from somewhere.  Any guesses?  You’re clue is that it is both famous and is docked in Annapolis.   Obviously its main use is for sailing charters, but you know it for another reason.   Guess away. 

Over the weekend, the MDP staff wants to remind you to properly dispose of your hot coals.  Hopefully I’ll be making some hot coals of my own….with my barbeque.  This shot was taken in Ft. Smallwood, just like last fridays.  Ft. Smallwood, by the way is one of the prettiest bayside parks in the state, maybe you could go there to do some barbequing of your own this weekend.    

The results of the contest are in and, depite their eyelashes, I’ve decided that the giraffes are named Barney and Jefferson Walker.  

I really have to thank everyone for not naming on Geoffrey, I’ve never liked how that giraffe went about flagrantly spelling his name wrong. 

 Today’s photo comes from corresponding photographer (and the man who hosts this website) Chris, who took this photo of an Annapolis sunset in 2002.  

What’s a bad thing to do when driving over a bridge?  Take a picture?  I disagree.   What if its a really high two lane bridge and you are 1 mile out from land?  I say its still not a problem. 

 Special thanks to corresponding photographer Shelly for today’s photo.  (Though let it be known that I will do what it takes to get the scoop for the Maryland Daily Photo Community….tell your friends) 

It’s really neat how the motion has created such a strange effect on this photo. It’s as if the whole thing was captured underwater.   It’s also amplified by the dusk of an already overcast day, which gives it sort of a creepy overtone.  

Well congratulations to everyone who figured out that this is the sculpture by the Southwest wing of BWI.  To be as accurate as possible, it’s actually the sculpture right outside the ramp from the parking garage to terminal B.  That ramp is also where this picture was taken.
Some more fun things about the airport.    

It was the first airport with a train station on the grounds

It started out as “Logan Field” 

Passenger Service started in the 30′s

After Truman dedicated it, it was called Friendship International Airport.  

It was named Baltimore/Washington Airport in 1973

In 2005 it was renamed Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Here’s more info!

What’s one of the most important features of Maryland?  The Bay, clearly, right?   I have spent a lot of time here without really focusing in on the bay, but all the while unconsciously enjoying its proximity.  I know it is there because I am subtly reminded of it when I see a seagull fly overhead, when I cross a bridge over a river which empties into the bay, and when I realize that beyond the Domino plant there’s actually a big body of water out there which is attached to the inner harbor.  A little while ago I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the nation’s largest estuary and this photo is the result of that decision.   While taking it I learned a few interesting facts about the bay. 

First of all, the funny thing about the bay is that, at certain points, it can be difficult to find a good area to just sit on the shore by yourself and relax.  This is because the bay has two discernable shorelines: public shores and private shores.  There are probably plenty of places that are just obscure enough to avoid crowding and which are not under the claim of private ownership.  The problem is that they just aren’t close to my office.  As a result, to take this photo I walked the line between public and private until the signs (literally the signs that say “keep out”) weren’t exactly clear, at which point I moved in for the shot.     

While this shot makes it look like the bay is this tranquil and placid all the time, it is just a single moment in time; a piece of the much larger experience which is the observation of the bay for just a half hour.   While you could never stare at this photo for half an hour, you could absolutely lose yourself in the goings–on of the bay at this location for half an hour.   While I was sitting there boats went by, ducks came and went, families (who probably owned a piece of this shoreline) walked in front of me, and the sun moved far enough to completely change the color of my surroundings.   When you find a good public place to sit and make your own for a few minutes, I’d suggest doing just that.  In the mean time, I’ll capture a few of my bay experiences and bring them back for you.