Maryland Municipal League Geotrail - Annapolis Traditional Geocache

Annapolis has been Maryland’s capital city since 1694. On November 22, 1708, Governor John Seymour, acting in the name of Queen Anne, granted a charter to the city, which makes Annapolis the oldest incorporated municipality in Maryland and the only Maryland city whose charter was issued under the Royal seal. In a quirk of history, it was while Annapolis was the capital of the United States of America (November 1783 to August 1784) that the King of England, by a treaty signed in Paris, officially lost his claim to sovereignty over “the American colonies.”

Over the more than 350 years since it was first settled in 1649, Annapolis has matured into a center of government, culture, commerce, entertainment, and recreation; it is renowned worldwide as a visitor destination. It lives on as the seat of government of the State of Maryland and of Anne Arundel County. It is the site of eminent centers of education: the United States Naval Academy (established in 1845) and St. John’s College, the nation’s third-oldest institution of higher learning, established as King William’s School in 1695. For its relatively small size, Annapolis boasts an unusually large number of cultural organizations. Residents and visitors can enjoy theatrical performances, opera and symphony concerts, boat cruises, historical tours, visits to museums and art galleries, and a wide variety of special events and festivals.

The downtown section of the city is a registered Historic Landmark. Its street plan of two major circles and radiating streets remains much the same as it was when executed by Governor Francis Nicholson in 1695. The Historic District reflects colonial heritage, federal vitality, 19th-century vivacity, and contemporary vision. The tightly woven texture of modest buildings and grand buildings, punctuated by chimneys, church spires, and cupolas, gives Annapolis its unrivaled streetscapes.

Living within about 35 miles of both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., many of the 35,000 residents find employment outside the city. However, as Maryland’s capital, the city experiences a daily population swell of up to 150,000 on any given day on which the legislature is in session. It is easy to see why so many of the 4.5 million annual visitors to Annapolis decide to stay for a lifetime. As Thomas Jefferson said, “The situation of this place is extremely beautiful.”

This cache is located in Truxton Park one of the largest parks of the Annapolis City Parks. The park features many activities for the family including a public swimming pool, boat launch and skateboard park along with many basketball and tennis courts and walking trails. For more information about of the facilities available, please visit the Annapolis City website.

The cache for this part of the MML geotrail will bring you to the northern end of Truxtun Park. Trails accessible from any of the available parking areas can take you to this cache. The closest parking, however, is available at the skateboard park near the boat ramp off of Park Rd.

Updated as of 8-18-09

If starting from the skateboard park take the trail northwest past the red gate. As one approaches the water there is a subtle trail that branches off to the left. Take this trail and continue for about 100 ft. The hiding place will become very apparent if one uses their geosense.

As with all cache finds, please be sure to sign the log book to record your visit and replace the cache as well if not better than you found it. The cache does not contain a stamp, but the code word for this cache is on the lid of the cache container and on the logbook. Please make sure the cache is secure in its hiding spot so that it will not meet a fate similar to the first two hides.

Once you've found the cache feel free to continue down the trail to Spa Creek where a nice picturesque view of the statehouse can be seen from the faux marble bench near the posted plaque.

This cache was hidden using a very old Magellan GPS320. Several waypoints were taken over ten minutes to try to get an accurate one but be advised that the coordinates may be a little off. Feel free to send your coordinates, should the posted ones be found unusually off.