Maryland's Capital City

Drive was short this morning: to the Chesapeake Bay, to Annapolis, the capital of Maryland. Founded in the late 1600s by Puritans on the Severn River, it not only is the location of the State House (right now under restauration, photo below) and of many quaint, nicely renovated historic homes, but also, and, most importantly, the seat of the U.S. Naval Academy, established in 1845 at former Fort Severn. 

 

We strolled through the downtown area, Historic Annapolis - which reminded us of quaint New England towns: churches, little homes, cobblestone streets, touristic shops and a waterfront/harbor. The City Dock was shut down because of a boat show, but we checked out the waterfront before we visited the Naval Academy, in historic downtown Annapolis.

 

 

 

Approximately 4,400 students are living and studying on campus, called "The Yard", which was easier approachable as we thought. Just a quick I.D. and security check, that was it! After a film and exhibitions in the Visitor Center we explored the grounds (photo below), checking out  its Dahlgren Hall (an Armory transformed into an ice rink and gym), Bancroft Hall, the huge student's living quarters, and Main Chapel, the cathedral (on pic below). 

 

Naval Academy,,, to me such "brain-washing", life-changing institutions are sort of fascinating. Wondering how it works and who wants to do it? Beginning of July about 1,200 new students or "midshipmen" were accepted for the Class of 2024 at the Naval Academy, over 40 % of them women, about 70 % white, the rest minorities. "Induction Day" marks the beginning of "Plebe summer", a 7-week  military indoctrination and training period, which is supposed to help new Midshipmen Candidates (Seekadetten) "to develop morally, mentally, and psychically". Then studies really start afterwards, and, summers are dedicated to training on sea.

The whole education takes four years, and ends with a "Bachelor of Science". After finishing studies successfully they are either "Ensign, U.S. Navy" (Leutnant zur See) or "Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps" and they get assigned to a "job" and are obliged to serve for  five years as a pay-back for free education. Although, both the Navy and the Marine Corps are regarded as separate branches of the military, the Marine Corps is technically a part of the U.S. Navy. 

Found it highly interesting, and, would have loved to talk to some young recruits. Lots of them were around in their dress uniforms (probably because of Indigenous People's Day - formerly Columbus Day).

On we drove, first east,  over the 6-mi long Bay Bridge, then south, over Chesapeake Bay on Hwy. 50. It's a tattered mass of water, rivers flowing into the ocean water of the bay. With a couple of stops on the way, we landed in Cambridge, our stop of the day. Drove to the waterfront with its lighthouse and checked out the town.

Our motel: a Comfort Inn, pretty much out of the way, but, we made the best of it and found a great brewery (RAR), serving crabcakes. That was apparently the place, where the whole population of Cambridge gathered.

Cambridge is Harriet Tubman's town. This famous American abolitionist and activist (1822-1913), formerly a slave herself, was the head and heart of the "Underground railroad", a support system for slaves, helping them to get to Philadelphia. "Moses", as she was called "never lost a passenger". Many markers, statues, murals, etc. for her in town. More on that tomorrow.