The Maryland Mosaic: Firsts That Happened in Maryland
The Maryland Museum of Military History
Since the American Revolution, Maryland soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines have fought in every major conflict that has involved the United States. From the Maryland 400 at the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn to the state’s Union and Confederate regiments that clashed in 1862 to Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944, to the recent conflicts in the Global War on Terror, the consistent bravery, sacrifice and commitment of Maryland citizens are historic.
To honor Maryland’s important participation in the American Revolution, the MD Two Fifty newsletter highlights historic firsts in the nation and state. After featuring the Maryland State House in the January MD Two Fifty newsletter, the Maryland Mosaic now highlights a lesser-known attraction in downtown Baltimore.
The Maryland Museum of Military History chronicles almost 400 years of Maryland’s proud military tradition of service. The imposing 5th Regiment Armory contains a major collection of artifacts that show off the tradition. It begins with the protection of the Maryland colony by the Maryland militia and traces the brave actions of the Maryland 400, General Washington’s Maryland Line, in the American Revolution. The museum preserves and exhibits the history of Maryland soldiers and airmen in all state and national emergencies through present day, thanks to the herculean efforts of the Museum’s Director, Ms. Barbara Taylor, and her team of archivists and conservators.
The founding of this museum was largely due to the work of Joe Balkoski, retired Maryland National Guard command historian. Joe formally established the museum and conducted extensive research that recorded the significant accomplishments of the 29th Infantry Division during World War Two. Joe chronicled the actions of this division, which included two Maryland regiments, in his seven-volume series. Joe will be speaking about the brave 29th Division chaplain, Baltimore native Father Eugene Patrick O’Grady, at our February 12, 1:00pm, Lunch and Learn Lecture. There is a link to the virtual programs on the events calendar of the Enoch Pratt Library website.
Consider a patriotic visit to the 5th Regiment Armory Museum during this revolutionary year. The museum is free and open to the public, but when you enter this active military post you will need to show a state or government I.D. to the guard, which reminds us that our state’s military commitment continues. Parking is available within the gates or in the lot next to the Armory. You can learn much more by going to the Maryland Museum of Military History website. You can also learn more about Maryland’s troops in the American Revolution on our Maryland Mosaic website www.marylandmosaic.org
This painting, housed in the Maryland Museum of Military History at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, features the moment on July 10, 1776, when Smallwood’s Regiment departed Annapolis to join George Washington’s forces in the defense of New York City. Alfred Wordsworth Thompson painted this highly stylized and inaccurate depiction of Smallwood’s Regiment in 1876 and displayed it during the centennial exhibitions of the American Revolution.
