March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 50 F

Annapolis to celebrate Maryland’s Constitution of 1864

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Historic Downtown Annapolis (3)Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides invites residents to support the numerous events offered this month, showcasing our history and the outstanding work being done by the Annapolis Commission on Maryland’s Constitution of 1864 and the Abolishment of Slavery.

The City has been planning for this since 2011, when the Annapolis City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 59-11, which established the Commission.  “Members of the commission, which is made up of all volunteers, have dedicated their time and talents to creating and providing educational programs, celebrations, lectures, an Emancipation Quilt, and Civil War reenactments that allow us to step back in time and be a part of history,” Mayor Pantelides said.

“The sole purpose of this Commission, ad hoc to the Heritage Commission of the City of Annapolis, is to provide a glimpse into the lives of Marylanders, and in particular those in the State Capital during the American Civil War,” Chair of Annapolis 1864 Janice Hayes-Williams said.  “President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not release slaves and indentures in the State of Maryland. As a result a new Constitution was necessary as the slave men had left their stations to join either the Union or Confederacy, demoralizing slavery and putting the State of Maryland at risk.  This 150th Anniversary Celebration is to acknowledge and celebrate Maryland’s 3rd Constitution and the resultant abolishment of slavery, end of indentured servitude, the establishment of a statewide Public School System, creation of the position of Lt. Governor, and other legislation that changed the face of Maryland forever.”

The City invites you to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Maryland Emancipation from Saturday, October 18 through Saturday, November 1 at the following events:

  • Saturday, October 18 from noon to 3 p.m. Discover Belvior, Scotts Plantation Where the present meets the past, you can participate in an archaeological dig at the recently discovered slave quarter in Crownsville, MD. Location- 1487 Generals Highway, Crownsville, MD 21032.  Cost – Adults $25 School aged children & youth $5
  • Saturday, October 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Encampment (1864 Reenactment) – Black Union soldiers explain life during the Civil War in an actual encampment. View Civil War artifacts and meet interpreters. Location – Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, 1101 Smithville Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. Free Admission.
  • Sunday, October 26 Honoring our Ancestors – A day of Prayer, reflection and remembrance. Location – Individual places of worship.
  • Monday, October 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Opening Week Reception – City of Annapolis Documentary Screening. A VIP reception will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. with the public reception and screening from 6 to 8 p.m.  Location – Banneker Douglass Museum, 84 Franklin Street in Annapolis. Free Admission, but reservations are requested as space is limited.
  • Tuesday, October 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. Exhibits & Lectures at the Maryland State Archives. Join lecturer Anthony Cohen at the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. Free Admission but reservations are requested as space is limited.
  • Wednesday, October 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. Lecture by Author John Stauffer, Ph.D Harvard University Professor entitled Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Location – St. John’s College, Francis Scott Key Auditorium in Annapolis. Free Admission but reservations are requested as space is limited.
  • Thursday, October 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Theatre – “Four Women of Annapolis” Scotti Preston, Interpreter. Location – Annapolis High School, 2700 Riva Road in Annapolis.  Free Admission but reservations are requested as space is limited.
  • Friday, October 31 at 6 p.m. – Libation Ceremony with Ann Chin.  Location – Susan Campbell Park in Annapolis. Free Admission.
  • Saturday, November 1 at 10 a.m. Emancipation Day Proclaimed and Quilt Unveiling with Joan M.E. Gaither, Ph.D.  Location – Maryland State House, Old House at Delegates Chambers in Annapolis. Free Admission
  • Saturday, November 1 from 7 p.m. to Midnight – Celebration and Awards Gala.  Award Categories: Richard Edison Israel, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Phebe R. Jacobsen, and Libertus Van Bokkelen. Location – Loews Annapolis Hotel, 126 West Street in Annapolis. Admission, $100 per person.

Tickets for all events are on line http://www.annapolis.org/ at the Historic Annapolis Foundation.  Those attending any of the events should register because some of the locations have limited space.   The Schedule is subject to change.

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