Established in 1952, Historic Annapolis is the leading nonprofit preservation and history organization in Annapolis, Maryland.
Our mission is to Preserve and Protect the historic places, objects, and stories of Maryland’s capital city, and provide engaging experiences that Connect people to the area’s diverse heritage.
Historic Annapolis, Inc. (HA) was founded to ensure that the legacy of Annapolis’s past would continue to enrich the city’s future. Without the dedicated efforts of Historic Annapolis, our city might look like any other town in America.
Historic Annapolis was instrumental in getting the Colonial Annapolis Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We successfully advocated for ordinances and zoning restrictions that continue to safeguard the city’s unique architecture, welcoming waterfront, and scenic vistas. Because of these efforts, Annapolis has one of the largest concentrations of colonial buildings in the nation.
Historic Annapolis’s seminal project was restoring and opening the grand colonial home and garden of William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Other preservation efforts saved the more modest living and work spaces of early artisans and merchants. Together with the University of Maryland and the City of Annapolis, we sponsored archaeological excavations that uncovered forgotten remnants of the past.
We are an active partner with several cultural and tourism organizations, including the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area. Together, we promote our region’s historical, cultural, and natural assets. The tours, museum exhibits, educational programs, and social gatherings we host bring history to life for residents and visitors alike.
Historic Annapolis draws its true strength from the hundreds of members, volunteers, and supporters.