Thursday, June 1 - Saturday, June 6, 2017
Annapolis! What an interesting city! Water and boats and nautical stuff everywhere. City Dock is the hub of the waterfront.
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| Annapolis City Dock |
A block from City Dock is the US Naval Academy. Our walking tour guide is dressed in period costume by this entrance.
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| US Naval Academy, Annapolis |
Bancroft Hall is the largest dormitory in the world, housing all 4000 midshipmen attending the Naval Academy.
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| US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall |
The Beaux-Arts style building is magnificent, both inside and out.
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| US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall |
Naval themed art is prominent.
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| US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall |
Bet your college dorm didn't look like this!
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| US Naval Academy - Bancroft Hall |
Equally impressive is the Chapel.
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| US Naval Academy - Chapel |
Stained glass windows all depict biblical themes with a water or boating reference.
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| US Naval Academy - Chapel |
Nautical motifs are everywhere.
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| US Naval Academy, Annapolis |
Officer's quarters face a lovely tree-lined street on the grounds.
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| US Naval Academy officer's quarters |
We toured about half of the very large museum on the grounds.
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| US Navel Academy Museum |
We had been advised to start on the top floor with the "dockyard models" exhibit, a great choice! During the years of the British sailing shipbuilding era, 1600 - 1830s, many ships had accurate scale models built, in conjunction with the actual ships. Few of the original ships remain, but about 400 of the dockyard model are still around. This museum houses 50 of them.
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| Dockyard model |
The models were considered accurate in most details, including some interior details, and have been used to better understand construction techniques of the period.
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| Dockyard model, detail |
The detail was exquisite!
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| Dockyard model, detail |
Imagine how imposing the actual ship would have been.
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| Dockyard model, detail |
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| Dockyard model, detail |
In the Napoleonic era, captured French soldiers made these "prisoner of war" models. Working from memory and using whatever materials were available, usually wood and bone, these models were not considered accurate representations of real ships.
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| Prisoner of war model |
The exquisite detail is seen in these models, too.
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| Prisoner of war model |
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| Prisoner of war model |
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| Prisoner of war model |
While in Annapolis we were able to meet our good friends, Kurt and Cindy, who were in DC for some R&R. We had a fun lunch in Alexandria and enjoyed comparing retirement experiences.
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| With Kurt & Cindy in Alexandria |
Another day, another tour, this time of the Maryland State House. Annapolis is the state capitol and this building is very near our marina.
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| Maryland State House, 1779 |
The interior has been beautifully restored.
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| Maryland State House |
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| Maryland State House |
These early chambers are no longer used for state business but have been preserved and are open for tours.
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| Maryland State House |
The downtown area is filled with historic buildings.
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| Annapolis MD |
The famous Chick & Ruth's Delly, where each day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by employees and customers together.
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| Chick & Ruth's Delly |
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| Annapolis MD |
A short walk across the Severn River bridge leads to the quaint Eastport neighborhood, filled with historic homes, more marinas, restaurants and funky shops.
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| Eastport |
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| Eastport |
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| Eastport |
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