Maryland

The center of the state panel pays homage to the bravery of the Maryland 400. This contingent of the 1st Maryland Regiment earned their heroic status during the Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, 1776.

Significantly outnumbered by British forces, the Maryland 400 held their ground, providing George Washington and the Continental Army crucial time to evacuate and evade immediate defeat. It was from this critical defense that Maryland received its nickname “The Old Line State.”

The upper right-hand corner spotlights one of the most significant moments in early American political history: General George Washington’s resignation speech at the Annapolis State House, as witnessed by Mary “Molly” Ridout. A letter she wrote to her mother in 1783 vividly captures the emotional gravity of Washington’s farewell, underscoring the profound significance of the first peaceful transfer of power.

Maryland icons such as the Wye Oak, Annapolis State House, and the Peggy Stewart are depicted throughout the panel.