Annapolis, Inc., and its indefatigable president Mrs. J. M. P. Wright,
for the splendid work they are doing to further the cause of historic
preservation and research in Annapolis. I understand that partly as
a result of their labors, the Historic Sites Survey Committee of the
Department of the Interior is going to consider the old city for possible
designation as a registered national historic landmark.
Annapolis was once a major port in colonial America. It was a
great center of culture. Some of its leading citizens played a key role
in the American Revolution. It was, as I have said, the first peacetime
capital of the United States. In the early federal period it served as
the port of entry for Washington. On this point, the Maryland
Gazette of November 20, 1817 reported the following:
"Annapolis is, from its situation, more accessible from the ocean than
any other port, within a convenient distance, from the city of Wash-
ington. It has been spontaneously selected by the ministers from foreign
powers, for their place of landing, and our own envoys have generally
made it the point of their departure. In respect to the latter, it offers
incalculable and exclusive advantages, in the celerity in which dis-
patched, sent from the seat of government (a distance of only 30 miles)
may be forwarded to the different courts in Europe, or to our navy, in
its stations abroad. Our port might also be conveniently used as the
place of embarkation for troops, or stores, either by the way of French-
town or Elkton, at the head of the Bay, or to the southern states,
as was frequently the case, during the late War; and orders could be
transmitted for such purpose by the heads of departments, without any
material delay. "
Incidentally, we are indebted to Historic Annapolis, Inc., for bringing
this information to light.
In 1845. the federal government honored Annapolis by selecting it
as the site for the United States Naval Academy. And, of course,
since 1649, it has been the capital of Maryland. In my view, An-
napolis is one of the great cities of America in terms of American
heritage. I sincerely hope that when the Historic Sites Survey Com-
mittee of the Department of the Interior convenes in 1964 to select
places for designation as registered national historic landmarks, that
the old city of Annapolis, as well as several other Maryland treasures
of antiquity will be named.
I want to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Murray Nelligan,
of the National Park Service, for presenting us with the Certificate and
Plaque. I also want to thank all of you for coming here today to
observe this 180th anniversary Ratification Day.
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