Inside Annapolis | Historic Markers 



What do the Markers Mean?

The town of Annapolis, Maryland is filled with beautiful historic buildings, lovingly restored and maintained by both private citizens and the Historic Annapolis Foundation. The historic markers used by Historic Annapolis Foundation, HAF, were designed to identify noteworthy buildings in Annapolis to provide information on the architectural period of that particular building, and to be decorative. They help make spotting and identifying the historic Annapolis buildings much easier for visitors interested in our rich history. In fact, the town has more surviving colonial buildings than any other location in the country. For the marker's design, HAF chose The Liberty Tree, a tulip poplar which, until recently due to age and heavy damage from Hurricane Floyd, stood proudly on St. John's College campus and was believed to be nearly 400 years old. Pre-Revolutionary War meetings held under the tree by the Sons of Liberty were the basis for its name and, even in its absence, the site continues to be a popular attraction. Today, Annapolitans and visitors alike are turning their attention to the descendant of The Liberty Tree, nicknamed Son of Liberty, and the cultivation of a second descendant, from Newton's famous apple tree!


Decoding the Markers.

The markers are color-coded as follows: • Dark Green markers 17th century (1684-1700) • Bronze markers 18th-century buildings of national importance • Brick Red markers designate 18th century or Georgian Federal (1700-1784) • Blue markers Federal (1784-1840) • Light Green markers Greek Revival (1820-1860) • Purple markers Victorian Period (1837-1901) • Grey markers 19th/20th-century vernacular (1837-1930) • Yellow markers 20th-century distinctive (1901- Present)

There are building of many different periods and styles lining our streets. Historic Annapolis Foundation retains ownership of the markers and reserves the right to remove a marker if a property's architectural integrity is diminished by a proposed alteration. The Historic Annapolis Foundation may ask a property owner to complete restoration or maintenance work before awarding a marker. The markers are awarded only to buildings that are both worthy of recognition and maintained in a quality appropriate to the architectural significance of the building. Therefore, anytime you see one, you can rest assured that the owners of that building are taking very good care of it, and that it will be available for viewing by other Annapolis visitors -- perhaps another 300 years from now! Enjoy our beautiful city.