• 1608
Captain John Smith explores the Chesapeake Bay
• 1631
English trading post established on Kent Island
• 1632
Maryland Charter granted to Cecilius Calvert by King Charles I - The colony was named Maryland for Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife of Charles I (1600 - 1649).
• 1633
Ark and Dove sail from the Isle of Wight, England
• 1634
Ark and Dove arrive at St. Clements Island; St. Mary's City founded
• 1649
"An Act Concerning Religion" passed; Puritans founded Providence (now Annapolis)
• 1664
Slavery allowed by law in Maryland
• 1695
Annapolis becomes the capital of Maryland

1700's→

• 1727
Maryland Gazette founded - the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States
• 1729
Baltimore founded
• 1767
Mason-Dixon Line established as Maryland's northern boundary
• 1776
Four Marylanders sign the Declaration of Independence
• 1783
Annapolis became the nation's capital from November 1783 until August 1784; George Washington resigned his commission in the State House
• 1784
Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris in the State House
• 1786
Annapolis Convention called for meeting to discuss new form of government
• 1788
Maryland becomes the seventh state to ratify the U. S. Constitution
• 1791
Maryland donates land for the new capital, Washington D.C.

• 1813
British raid Havre de Grace during the War of 1812
• 1814
British burn Washington and bomb Fort McHenry; Francis Scott Key writes the "Star- Spangled Banner"
• 1826
Public schools established by law; Jews given right to vote and to hold public office
• 1828
Building begun on the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad
• 1829
C&D Canal opened
• 1830
B&O Railroad establishes first passenger rail service
• 1837
Baltimore Sun begins publication
• 1844
World's first telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington established
• 1845
U. S. Naval Academy established in Annapolis
• 1850
C&O Canal completed from Georgetown to Cumberland
• 1861
First bloodshed of Civil War occurs in Baltimore
• 1862
Confederate forces defeated at Antietam
• 1864
Maryland abolishes slavery
• 1867
Present Maryland Constitution adopted
• 1876
Johns Hopkins University founded
• 1886
Enoch Pratt Free Library opens in Baltimore

• 1904
Downtown Baltimore destroyed by fire
• 1936
University of Maryland School of Law admits first African-American
• 1952
William Preston Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge) opens
• 1967
Thurgood Marshall becomes first African-American Justice of the Supreme Court
• 1980
Baltimore's Harbor place opens
• 1985
Maryland begins an environmental program to clean up the Chesapeake Bay
• 1992
Oriole Park at Camden Yards officially opened
• 1995
Annapolis celebrates its 300-year anniversary as the capital of Maryland

• 2004
Maryland celebrates its Flag Centennial (100 years.)