Ch. 583                                    1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

ESTABLISHED THERE IN 1635, THE FIRST USE OF TOWN PLANNING CAME IN 1668, AND
THE FIRST PRINTING PRESS IN THE SOUTHERN COLONIES CAME IN 1685.

(III) MOREOVER, EVENTS OF TREMENDOUS HISTORICAL

SIGNIFICANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIDE STATE OF MARYLAND OCCURRED AT
ST. MARYS CITY, INCLUDING THE FIRST STATE HOUSE OF MARYLAND IN 1634, THE
FIRST MARYLAND INDUSTRIES, BRICK MAKING AND IRON WORKS, WERE
ESTABLISHED IN THE 1630S, THE FIRST MILL OPERATED IN MARYLAND (1635), THE
FIRST PUBLIC INN OPENED IN MARYLAND (1638), THE FIRST ANGLICAN CHURCH IN
MARYLAND (1643), AND THE FIRST OFFICIAL CITY IN MARYLAND (1668).

(3)     (2) THERE IS A GREAT NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDY AND
APPRECIATION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ST. MARTS CITY TO THE HISTORY OF
MARYLAND AND THE NATION. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES THAT THE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AND FUNDING FOR ST. MARYS CITY HAVE NOT
BEEN ADEQUATE TO PRODUCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF, OR APPRECIATION FOR, ST.
MARY'S CITY THAT IT IS DUE FROM THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE AS WELL AS OF
THE NATION, AND FINDS AND DECLARES THAT A NEW COURSE OF ACTION IS
NEEDED.

(4)      (3) THE HISTORIC ST. MARYS CITY COMMISSION NEEDS THE
STATE TO PROVIDE BASIC OPERATIONAL FUNDING AND ORGANIZATIONAL
FLEXIBILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE HISTORIC ST. MARYS CITY ALONG WITH
AN INCREASED EMPHASIS ON SOLICITING OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, RESEARCH, STUDY, AND
CURATION, AS WELL AS ACCELERATED ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS.

(5)     (4) EVERY MARYLAND SCHOOL CHILD SHOULD BE
KNOWLEDGEABLE AS TO THE HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S CITY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
NOT ONLY TO THIS STATE BUT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION. AS
RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD BE
EXPANDED TO SECONDARY AND COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS AS WELL AS ADULTS
PURSUING CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

(6) (5) AN AFFILIATION BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND ST. MARY'S
COLLEGE OF MARYLAND WILL ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO PUT TO FULLER AND
MORE EFFECTIVE USE THE ASSETS THAT THE STATE HAS ACQUIRED, PRESERVED
AND DEVELOPED AT HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

(7) (6) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY
COMMISSION AS A PUBLIC CORPORATION AN INDEPENDENT UNIT AND PROVISION
OF BASIC OPERATING FUNDS BY THE STATE IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND WILL
FACILITATE THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
NATIONALLY IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITE.

(8) (7) HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY WILL BENEFIT FROM A CREATIVE
AFFILIATION AND MORE FORMAL COLLABORATION WITH ITS GEOGRAPHIC
NEIGHBOR, ST. MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND, ITSELF DESIGNATED IN 1840 AS A
LIVING MONUMENT TO THE LEGACY OF MARYLAND'S FIRST COLONIAL CAPITAL.

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