St. Mary's City
Maryland's first capital - 4th English settlement in America
State: Maryland
County: St. Mary's County
Founded: 1634
Abandoned: 1708
St. Mary's City was Maryland's first capital and the 4th permanent English settlement in North America—but when the capital moved to Annapolis in 1708, the city vanished. Archaeologists have excavated it since 1968; now it's an outdoor museum with reconstructed 1600s buildings.
Quick Facts
- 4th permanent English settlement in North America
- Maryland Toleration Act guaranteed religious freedom in 1649
- City was literally forgotten for 260 years
- Archaeology continues to reveal new discoveries
Location
Address: St. Mary's County, Maryland
Coordinates: 38.1886, -76.4339