The historical development of the USA is presupposed with the foundation of first seaboard states, within which Maryland is considered with the genuine cultural peculiarities. In this respect the idea of the role of this state is vital for the survey. Moreover, the thing is that Maryland impresses visitors with its original sceneries. History knows many examples of Maryland-like buildings and objects of the national significance which are outlined as major for the country. The geographical features of this state also presuppose differences in territorial coloring of Maryland. The paper is intended to point out whether some cultural aspects of Maryland really influenced today’s shape of the United States. Moreover, the point on the traditional variable is made, so that to observe the ways of mutual junctions between geographical, cultural, traditional, and social approaches toward the state of Maryland. Nonetheless, Maryland is an outstanding and beautiful place for an ordinary visitor with its own history and people.
First of all, it is vital to mention that Maryland is a living evidence of the events concerned with the United States formation and the Civil War. In this respect Americans are proud of the state due to its diversity in almost everything without any attempts to lose the characteristic features of its outlook. While speaking about Marylanders, it is necessary to underline that since the first settlements of Europeans the area of the state was populated not only by major groups of English and French settlers, but also by representatives from Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries in the 1700s (Craats 22). The perspective of such idea went abroad with all expectations about further development of the state and its significance for the wholeness and consolidation of the United States.
Maryland is supposed to be the first creations of the newly formatted country, the United States. Thereupon, this state was the first in provision of the first project of highway building across the country. This decision provides transportation services until now, known as the road 40. Thus, the process began from the internal needs to unite a fast-growing country:
President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation in 1806 to build the nation’s first interstate highway, linking the eastern seaboard with the western frontier. The highway became known as the National Road and was built through Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois (Newman para. 28).
This creation of the Americans of those times impresses by the buildings and patterns which can be seen when travelling by this road. Everything was left the same, notwithstanding the new technological approach toward the road structure. In the majority of points met by the road, picturesque and splendid features in building, dressing, and other elements of traditional coloring of Maryland cannot but catch an eye of an ordinary American. In fact, it always reminds us about how the predecessors’ estimated human relations in an industrial process. Cultural aspects of Maryland in its geographical shape begin with the growth of transportation systems, which made the US a huge transportable country where the significance of roads is at the core of the state’s internal relationships (Weber 1). Annapolis and Baltimore are the major cities of the state which represent remarkable evidence of the Colonial age with architecture and 18th-century waterfront (The Columbia Encyclopedia 30857). Most of the traditions for the two century long history are preserved into the household domain of Americans with some tints of some national approaches from different countries of the world.
Since the very beginning of Maryland’s history, as one of the colonial states throughout the territory of the US, a proprietary attitude of its citizens was outlined as on of the major human characteristics (Wright and Morris 13). It is not surprising that cultural aspects of Maryland touched upon the aristocratic approach in building houses, making difference in their interior and exterior parts with points on Colonial manor in patterning the household. It does not mean that among Marylanders there were no middle class of people. There are many documents which possess different significant information as of the way of living among inhabitants. A rich and wealthy architectural heritage, for example, includes Campbell Farmstead in Frederick County, which is featured and built in terms of trendy traditions in performing agricultural outbuildings (Powell and Thompson 123). Its features provide a difference in Colonial architecture of Maryland among other first states.
One more approach is considered with crossroads of historical importance of Maryland for the American society in each epoch of its essence. In other words, the state was placed at the juncture of various transportation ways, which in turn promoted socio cultural exchange within the population of the country. Colonial respects were predominant in ancient times, and this also asserted the fact that cultural background of the state is fulfilled with entire originality in the state’s outlook. In fact, people living today in cities of Maryland promote the realization and performance of cultural and traditional background preserved by the ancestors in their flow for democracy and fair development of affairs nationwide.
The relationships between different ethnical groups settled in Maryland are still being elaborated due to the vividness of rites and customs provided by the nationalities the whole picture of the state provides a well-developed traditional framework. People originating from Italy, Germany, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Greece and other countries of the world do not hesitate in making their cultural peculiarities a part of Maryland’s social outline. Though, the traditional and cultural heritage of the state is fairly divided into several cultural backgrounds. For instance, the citizens of Baltimore is a banal ‘melting pot’ of nations where the representatives of neighboring ethnicities invite others to celebrate their holidays and rites in order to experience their cultures by means of visiting museums, stores, restaurants etc (Craats 23). Here almost every significant and appropriate for the United States ethnical community is represented. With more glimpses at the national program of peace prospects encouragement there are merely no conflicts grounded on the racial or other disagreements. The Kunta Kinte Festival, the American Indian Festival, the Greek Festival, the Baltimore Irish Festival, the Hispanic Festival, and the Reggae Wine Festival can be seen at a definite time across the Maryland describing the diversity of national approach toward every ordinary Marylander (Craats 22). Arts and entertainment are also considered with the cultural groups living in the area of the state. Maryland attracts visitors by the atmosphere of harmony maintained between people which seem to be so different and native at once. Here the cultural touch is represented particularly in every house, in every man. Corresponding to the idea of tolerance one can apparently admit the reliability of Marylanders in making interpersonal relationships based on the rational evaluation of differences which everyone has notwithstanding the cultural or ethnical peculiarities. Such versatile framework of cultural features also provides a great concernment of people in Maryland about sports and lacrosse, in particular (Craats 26). Furthermore, in the historical cut Maryland was a motherland for many outstanding leaders and figures of world scope. In this respect a tolerant attitude of Marylanders toward each others’ cultural and traditional peculiarities was an impetus for leadership growth previously and at the moment.
To sum up, the great historical and cultural heritage of the USA encounters achievements of Americans who made this country one of the most powerful and significant in the world arena. Maryland, as one of the first colonial settlements of today’s Americans, is a vivid example of how different nationalities can be united in their cultural frameworks. In fact, cultural aspects of how things go in Maryland promote a deep conviction in the state’s uniqueness in terms of relationships provided between individuals. Cultural heritage of Maryland stands on the entire principles of mutual participation in social processes, so as to make other people desire to be a part of Maryland. Its historical background and present day’s approach toward development of political, religious, economic and other affairs constitutes an extent of equilibrium maintained and widely performed throughout the state. This notion touches upon roads, architecture, household and other patterns providing the whole outlook on the proper details concerned with Maryland. All in all, the more one shares an idea of Maryland’s tolerant attitude to cultural growth, the more one wants to implement such a framework at a place of current living, in the society.
Works cited
Craats, Rennay. Maryland. New York, NY: Weigl Publishers Inc., 2001.
“Maryland.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2007.
Newman, Cheryl. “Travelers Seek Byway Experiences”, Public Roads. US Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. 2001. Web.
Powell, Michael A. and Thompson, Bruce A. Mid-Maryland: a crossroads of history. Washington, DC: The History Press, 2005.
Weber, Joe. “Everyday Places on the American Freeway System.” Journal of Cultural Geography 21.2 (2004): 1-7.
Wright, Louis B. and Morris,Richard Brandon. The Cultural Life of the American Colonies. Mineola, NY: Courier Dover Publications, 2002.