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“Annapolis
- Main Street Memories” by Paul McGehee. The illuminated dome of the
Maryland State House presides over cobblestone reflections on
Annapolis' historic Main Street. This scene of the storied thoroughfare
as it appeared in the early 1980's is a perfect example of the old
living alongside the new, a thriving modern downtown that held on to
many of its 18th century buildings instead of knocking them all down
every few decades as some towns do. Apart from a few modern structures,
and utility poles, the appearance of this charming scene is pretty much
the same today as it was in 1800...the Historic Preservation Commission
has been key in maintaining the area in recent years. In the early
1950's things were looking bleak for some of the old structures and
there was talk of tearing them down but Historic Annapolis, Inc. was
formed just in time to employ pioneering preservation tactics that were
years ahead of the Federal curve. Thanks to concerned citizens we have
the five-block-long strip of historic buildings along Main Street
(formerly Church Street) leading up to St. Annes Church, 65 preserved
buildings in all, from the City Dock to the Maryland Inn...and the
beautiful Maryland State House, which was completed in 1797. In fact,
the State House (which houses the Maryland General Assembly and the
Governor's office) is the oldest U.S. State Capitol which has been in
continuous legislative use since the early days of our nation.
Construction of the State House actually began in 1772 but was delayed
during the years of the American Revolutionary War against Britain. In
1783 and 1784 it served as the Capitol building of the United States
Congress of the Confederation, and is where the Congressional
Proclamation of the Treaty of Paris was signed and ratified, formally
ending the American Revolutionary War. Annapolis' historic Main Street
indeed holds many memories.
“Annapolis - Main Street Memories” is faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from
McGehee's original color pencil and acrylic artwork, each hand-signed
by the artist.
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