Mosaic Pieces
Welcome to the complete Maryland Mosaic.
Use the search functions to explore. Our predefined categories, tags, counties and chronological brackets will help you see links between the Pieces.
The collection has over 140 firsts, including events, people, places, objects, documents or buildings that are unique to Maryland and to the nation. The Mosaic is to be part of Maryland’s contribution to the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026. It covers the period from 1776 to the present. You will find at least one Piece for every county and Baltimore City, making this a statewide project.
Morgan State students stage first sit-in
Seven Morgan State College students stage the first sit-in at Read’s Drugstore in Baltimore. Ends peacefully. This is 5 years prior to more famous Greensboro, NC sit-in.
College Park Airport is oldest continuously used airport
Wilbur Wright gives flying lessons at the College Park airstrip and civilian planes begin regular use. It becomes the most continuously used airport in the US.
Elizabeth Patterson of Baltimore marries Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest brother
Elizabeth Patterson marries Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon’s youngest brother. She becomes first self-made female millionaire in US.
Cpt. John Rodgers fires first shot of War of 1812
Cpt. John Rodgers, born in Cecil County, commands frigate USS President and personally fires first shots of War of 1812.
George Washington resigns his military commission, changing the course of history.
George Washington resigns his Army commission to Congress in the Annapolis State House in 1783, moving the new country away from dictatorship and toward civilian control of the military.
“Underground railroad” term coined
Thomas Smallwood coins the expression “underground railroad,” in a newspaper column. Born a slave in PG county he teams up with Charles Torrey, a white clergyman, to help over 400 slaves escape through DC.
Mary Surratt is the first woman hanged by the federal government
Mary Jenkins Surratt is hanged with three other conspirators for plotting to kill President Abraham Lincoln. She is the first woman executed by the federal government. She is hanging on the far left of the scaffold.
Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day of the Civil War
The Battle of Antietam in September 1862 has soldiers of both sides falling for 12 straight hours. It is the single bloodiest day of the War (23,000 casualties of 132,00 engaged). Lincoln uses the battle to release the Emancipation Proclamation.
Oldest Unitarian Church
The oldest Unitarian Church in the country, designed by Maximilian Godefroy, is opened and is dedicated to “Unitarians” who “cherish the liberal sentiments on the subject of religion”.
C&O Canal is an engineering marvel
The C&O Canal completes construction on Lock 24 and the Seneca Acqueduct. Working by hand, the workers complete a unique stone aqueduct combined with a lift lock in 1832.
