Things to Do in Annapolis, United States: Walking Guide

Looking for things to do in Annapolis? This charming Maryland capital blends colonial history, maritime culture, and the United States Naval Academy on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Annapolis with 40 narrated places.

Explore Annapolis’ Highlights

Banneker‑Douglass Museum

The Banneker‑Douglass Museum occupies a former Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church erected in 1875 and remodeled in 1896. Its Gothic Revival brick façade is part of the Colonial Annapolis Historic District and the building is listed on the National Register. Inside, twelve thousand objects trace African American history and culture in Maryland from the post‑Civil War era to the present.

Brice House

Just a short walk away stands the Brice House, one of Annapolis’s three surviving five‑part Georgian mansions. Built with roughly 326,000 bricks laid with exceptional precision, the house follows a Palladian pattern adapted to an urban lot. Its austere exterior highlights the brickwork, while inside the Annapolis Plan places the main drawing room toward the garden rather than the street.

Annapolis Maritime Museum

Housed in a former oyster packing plant that once belonged to the McNasby Oyster Company, the Annapolis Maritime Museum tells the story of the Chesapeake Bay’s working waterfront. Exhibits include authentic oyster tongs, baskets, and equipment removed from fishing vessels, illustrating how the oyster industry shaped the local economy for generations.

Government House

Government House has been the official residence of Maryland’s governor since 1870. Originally Victorian, the building was rebuilt in brick during the 1930s to match the surrounding colonial architecture. Seven State Rooms are used for official functions, and the residence sits on State Circle just steps from the Maryland State House.

Museum of Historic Annapolis

Run by the nonprofit Historic Annapolis, this museum preserves the city’s story through artifacts and a thoughtfully curated gift shop. Locally made items such as sea glass jewelry, handmade ceramics, textiles, and small decorative pieces reflect the Chesapeake Bay’s maritime heritage and are available for visitors to take home.

Victualling Warehouse Maritime Museum (Ego Alley)

Ego Alley is the narrow channel where boats glide slowly past the docks, allowing spectators to admire passing vessels. The nickname emerged in the twentieth century as recreational boating expanded on the bay. Activity peaks from spring through early autumn, especially on summer evenings when the waterfront fills with onlookers watching a steady procession of craft.

Saint Annes Episcopal Church

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church is the oldest continuous parish in Annapolis, founded in 1692. The current Romanesque Revival building dates to 1859 and features red brick walls, rounded arches, a tall steeple, and a stained‑glass window created by Tiffany Studios. The church remains an active parish and a landmark on Church Circle.

USS Maryland Memorial & Bell

On the grounds of the United States Naval Academy, the USS Maryland Memorial displays the bell from the Colorado‑class battleship USS Maryland (BB‑46). Commissioned in 1921, the ship survived Pearl Harbor with only light damage and went on to serve in major Pacific battles including Midway, Tarawa, and Okinawa. The bell stands as a tribute to the vessel and the sailors who served aboard her.

Chase‑Lloyd House

The Chase‑Lloyd House, begun in 1769 for lawyer Samuel Chase, is one of the earliest brick three‑story Georgian mansions in the Thirteen Colonies. Its balanced façade hides a cantilevered staircase that rises without visible support and a Palladian window that floods the interior with light. The house hosted George Washington and later welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824.

Reynold’s Tavern

Reynold’s Tavern claims the title of the oldest tavern in Annapolis, operating on Church Circle since the 1700s. The site bears a difficult history, as enslaved Black people were bought and sold on the property. Today it operates as Rams Head Tavern, serving American fare, and next door the Rams Head On Stage concert venue offers an intimate setting for musicians, comedians, and local performers.

Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Since 1966, the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has presented volunteer‑run productions under the open sky. The nonprofit relies on local actors, musicians, and crew to stage comedies, musicals, and family‑friendly shows as daylight fades into evening. The simple setup—an open‑air stage with surrounding seating—creates a relaxed atmosphere that feels distinct from indoor theaters.

Asbury United Methodist Church (The Annapolis Collection Gallery)

The building that now houses The Annapolis Collection Gallery was erected around 1865 by the Slama family as a shoe store. Original details such as a mosaic tile threshold bearing the Slama name, pressed‑tin ceilings, and large display windows remain. Today the space exhibits artwork that captures the bay’s landscapes, working boats, creeks, and wildlife, keeping the region’s maritime heritage visible on canvas and in bronze.

Circle Theatre (Galway Bay Irish Pub)

The former Circle Theatre, a movie house that closed decades ago, reopened in December 1998 as Galway Bay Irish Pub. Founded by Michael Galway and Anthony Clarke, the pub preserves exposed brick, warm wood finishes, and stained‑glass details to evoke a traditional Irish tavern. With no televisions, the space encourages conversation, live folk music, and trivia nights, becoming especially lively during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Explore Annapolis with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide turns a self‑guided walk into a narrated experience. In Annapolis you can choose from two walking tours:

• The Capital Where Washington Gave Up Power – 1.02 km, about 59 minutes, 10 stops including the Banneker‑Douglass Museum, Reynold’s Tavern, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Old City Hall and Engine House, Government House, the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Maryland State House, the Baron Johann DeKalb monument, the USS Maryland Memorial & Bell, and the site of the Annapolis Convention.
• Brick Mansions of the Founding Fathers – 0.7 km, about 35 minutes, 6 stops covering Middleton Tavern, the Brice House, the William Paca House and Garden, the Peggy Stewart House, the Hammond‑Harwood House, and the Chase‑Lloyd House.

Each story plays automatically as you reach the location, letting you move at your own pace with no group schedule and no guide to follow. The narration is available in 11 languages, and the app works offline once the tours are downloaded.

Whether you’re drawn to colonial architecture, maritime memories, or the legacy of the Naval Academy, Annapolis offers layers of stories waiting to be discovered. Download Neywo, put on your headphones, and let the city reveal itself step by step.