The Maryland State House - Stairwell Room

- 18th Century
- 19th Century
  - Old House of Delegates Chamber
  - State House Caucus Room
- 20th Century
  - Annex, 1902-1906
  - Grand Staircase
- 21st Century
  - Senate Chamber
  - House of Delegates Chamber
- Second Floor
  - Governor's Reception Room
  - Governor's Office
- Online Exhibits

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Stairwell Room:
18th Century State House

Front Elevation of the State House [unbuilt]

Attributed to Joseph Horatio Anderson (d. 1781)
Ink on paper, c. 1776-1777
The John Work Garrett Library, The Sheridan Libraries,
The Johns Hopkins University

A Very Beautiful Building

Local architect Joseph Horatio Anderson designed the Maryland State House, which was built between 1772 and 1779. Visitors to Annapolis praised the new capitol, including French philosopher Abbé Robin, who described it in 1781 as “a very beautiful building, I think the most so of any I have seen in America.”

Although this elevation shows a proposed design that was never built, it does illustrate the type of small dome that may have existed when Congress met in Annapolis in 1783-1784. A small dome was in place until 1785 when it was replaced with the current dome. This elevation is one of several design drawings of the State House that are attributed to Anderson.