Open Travel Guide
History of Maryland

Maryland History & Heritage Guide 2026

The history of Maryland told through its places: sites worth the detour and the context they need.

Maryland has 10+ historical sites covered in this guide, led by Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Antietam National Battlefield and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Maryland is a Mid-Atlantic state of striking contrasts: historic Chesapeake Bay crab country, Appalachian mountain ridges, Civil War battlefields, and the vibrant harbor city of Baltimore. Flanking Washington DC on three sides, the state blends federal grandeur with blue-collar charm, colonial waterfront towns, and some of the East Coast's finest seafood.

Historical sites

Places where Maryland's past comes alive.

Historic

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Where: Baltimore

Admission: Adult: $15 (≈$15)

Historic

Antietam National Battlefield

Where: Sharpsburg

Admission: Adult:

Historic

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park

Where: Church Creek (Dorchester County)

Admission: Adult: Free

Historic

Maryland State House

Where: Annapolis

Admission: Adult: Free

Historic

United States Naval Academy Museum

Where: Annapolis

Admission: Adult: Free (with valid ID for USNA campus access)

Historic

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park — Great Falls

Where: Potomac

Admission: Adult:

Historic

Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum

Where: Baltimore

Admission: Adult: $5 (≈$5) | Child: $3 (≈$3, ages 6-18)

Historic

Monocacy National Battlefield

Where: Frederick

Admission: Adult: Free

Historic

St. Mary's City — Historic Site and Museum

Where: St. Mary's City (St. Mary's County)

Admission: Adult: $12 (≈$12) | Child: $6 (≈$6, ages 7-12)

Historic

Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park

Where: Baltimore (Fells Point)

Admission: Adult: $5 (≈$5) | Child: $3 (≈$3)

Museums

Curated collections that tell Maryland's story.

Museum

Maryland Historical Society Museum

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed Monday-Tuesday

Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8) | Child: Free (under 13)

Museum

Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; closed Monday-Tuesday

Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8) | Child: $6 (≈$6)