Learn more about the Old Line State, including surprising history, famous residents, and fun cultural trivia with our magnificent facts about Maryland. br br 10 Surprising Maryland Factsbr br 1. Annapolis, Maryland was briefly the capital of the United States, from 1783-1784. br br 2. Maryland is sometimes called "America in miniature" because of its diverse geography. Maryland boasts beautiful coastlines and sandy dunes, plains and marshlands teeming with animal life, oak forests and pine-covered mountains.br br 3. In exchange for granting a charter for settlers to establish a new colony, King Charles asked that it be named for his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Thus it was called Terra Mariae, or "Mary-land." br br 4. The first colonizers of Maryland wanted to avoid conflict with the Native American Piscataways living there and requested the chief's permission to settle, which he gave. br br 5. Maryland is home to many national firsts, including the first post office, printing business, telegraph line, dental school, and hot air balloon ascension. br br 6. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” after seeing the flag still waving at Fort McHenry in Maryland’s Baltimore Harbor after the British bombarded the fort during the War of 1812. br br 7. The town of Garrett Park, Maryland, passed a law in 1898 making it illegal to harm any songbird or tree within city limits. br br 8. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass was born and raised in Maryland. Harriet Tubman, champion of the Underground Railroad, was born as a slave in Maryland, eventually escaping to Philadelphia. br br 9. Famous writers who lived in Maryland include Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Upton Sinclair. br br 10. Maryland’s state crustacean is the Maryland Blue Crab, and its state sport is jousting. br br Check out more interesting Maryland facts here: br FactRetriever is a leading producer of the most interesting facts, online video content, and a plethora of fascinating topics.