ICYMI, it’s Maryland Day! Held each year on March 25, Maryland Day commemorates March 25, 1634 when settlers stepped onto Maryland soil from two small sailing ships. We wear our Maryland pride loudly and proudly, so any excuse to celebrate our beloved state is welcome here at ShoreBread. We decided to mark the occasion with Ten Random but Awesome Maryland Facts for Maryland Day (yeah…it’s a working title):
1.Poe & Babe
There have been many famous people over the past 300+ years that have called Maryland home, but two notable names are Edgar Allen Poe and Babe Ruth. We figured we would cater to both our literary buffs and sports fanatics with this one…Poe being a famed American writer and Babe Ruth being a beloved American baseball icon.
2. An Unparallelled State Sport
The state sport of Maryland is jousting. It really doesn’t get much cooler than that. Perhaps that’s why we have such an epic Renaissance Fair every year.
3. Blue crabs.
Enough said.
4. Entrepreneurial Genius.
Did you know that America’s first umbrellas were produced in Baltimore in 1828? We didn’t either, but apparently Baltimore was home to the country’s first umbrella factory. While this may not seem particularly noteworthy on first glance, think about the last time you tried walking through a torrential downpour without an umbrella and you’ll garner a greater appreciation for the entrepreneurship fostered in our great state.
5. Birdland.
We are certainly a state that loves its birds. Two cases being the oriole and the raven, both of which are memorialized through the BEST teams in baseball and football (ok, ok, we are clearly biased but you get the point): the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens! But seriously, Maryland sports fans are an impassioned bunch…us included.
6. Because Oprah.
Did you know that Oprah actually got her start in Baltimore? The larger than life personality got her start working as a co-anchor on WJZ. That’s right Maryland, we helped shape Oprah’s future.
7. Trend Setters.
Maryland is synonymous with history. One of the original 13 colonies, Maryland carries its history proudly.
8. The Maryland Flag.
There is no denying that Maryland has the coolest flag, hands down. The state flag was adopted in 1904; the design is taken from the shield on Lord Baltimore’s Seal. Today, the flag’s design is seen just about everywhere, with residents proudly supporting the flag on mugs, bumper stickers, shirts, shoes, jewelry, bathing suits and more.
9. Avid Waterman.
16 of the 23 Maryland counties border on tidal water, which is just further proof of how water-friendly its residents are. Fisherman, crabbers, surfers, sailors, boaters and more love living in a state with such close ties to the water. Of course, those of us on the Eastern Shore are lucky enough to be close to the bay and the beach…double win.
10.Feats of Wonder.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel has been called one of the seven engineering wonders of the world, which is not surprising considering the structure is a four-lane, 20-mile-long vehicular crossing of the Chesapeake Bay. Did you know that each tunnel is one-mile-long?!
Well, there you have it folks…ten more random reasons to love our great state! Happy Maryland Day Y’all!
