Anne Arundel County, established 1650, county seat Annapolis.
News from the County:
Anne Arundel County Cemetery Preservation Programs [Website]
The Anne Arundel County Genealogical Society has collected comprehensive records and inscriptions for its 500+ burial sites for decades, resulting in several publications. Anne Arundel County’s primary regulatory tool authorizes cultural resources staff to review site development activities for potential adverse effects on archaeological sites and cemeteries.
Libraries and Archives in Anne Arundel County that offer genealogical resources to patrons [PDF]
For discussion of Anne Arundel’s cemetery review and a link to its preservation easement template: [PDF]
http://www.aacounty.org/departments/planning-and-zoning/cultural-resources/cemeteries/
Link to the County’s development code as pertains to cemeteries – see 17-6-503:
http://www.aacounty.org/departments/planning-and-zoning/forms-and-publications/Article_17.pdf
To search properties by address or tax account number and determine if they are flagged as containing a cemetery: http://www.aacounty.org/departments/planning-and-zoning/cultural-resources/historic-properties/historicPropertiesSearch.html
If you know of a property with a cemetery that is not flagged in Anne Arundel County’s database, contact:
Anastasia Poulos, Archaeological Sites Planner, 410-222-7486, pzpoul44@aacounty.org
We are proud to acknowledge the accomplish of our member, Tina Simmons, who has published a booklet entitled, “Anne Arundel County Cemetery Art” in conjunction with the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society and assistance from the Trader Foundation for Maryland Burial Sites. The booklet highlights the various artforms of gravestone markings throughout Anne Arundel County.
Anne Arundel County’s Citizen Preservation Stewardship Program
We need your help documenting the current condition of cemeteries in Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel has the largest number of known cemeteries in Maryland as well as the oldest known tombstones.
Up until the 20th century, it was common to establish a small family cemetery on private land. Unfortunately, unchecked development and vandalism has destroyed above ground traces of these important cultural resources. Small family cemeteries hold an important place in the fabric of our communities, and the names found on the headstones are often found as the names to nearby roads or geographic features. These cemeteries represent the resting place of those who made Anne Arundel County the place it is today. In order to preserve these cues to the past, and respect the last resting place of our ancestors, County regulations do not allow cemeteries to be moved from their original location. To find out more and to sign up, visit www.aacounty.org/cemeteries. [Download the flyer and share with your community]
Article 17: Subdivision and Development
SUBTITLE 5. HISTORIC RESOURCES, ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES, AND CEMETERIES 17-6-503. Cemeteries.
(a) Cemetery identification.
The location and boundary of an onsite cemetery shall be determined by one of the following methods, in consultation with the Office of Planning and Zoning:
(1) a survey using professionally acceptable methods and techniques, including archival research, archaeology, geophysical survey methods, oral history, or other approved techniques;
(2) observations in the field including visible grave stones or markers, a pattern of depressions indicative of graves or associated fence boundaries; or
(3) reference to a modern map or plat or evidence found on historic maps or documents.
(b) Preservation.
A developer shall preserve an onsite cemetery, as follows:
(1) grading, construction, or subsurface disturbance within 25 feet of the cemetery boundary is prohibited;
(2) appropriate measures shall be taken to protect the cemetery during construction, such as a field-delineated limit of disturbance zone, temporary fencing, or other appropriate physical markings;
(3) a 15-foot right-of-way from the nearest public or private road shall be required to maintain public or family access to the cemetery; and
(4) a preservation and maintenance easement shall be provided that designates a homeowner’s association or other person or organization as the party responsible for care, maintenance, and protection of the site.
(Bill No. 3-05)
Cemetery Research
Kuethe Library
Historical & Genealogical Research Center
3 Crain Hwy. SE
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Tel: 410-760-9679, Thursday–Saturday
Government Resources
Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission
145 Gorman St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Lisa Craig, Chief of Historic Preservation
E: lmcraig@annapolis.gov
Tel: 410-263-7941
Anne Arundel County Courthouse
7 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-222-1397
Anne Arundel County Land Records Office
7 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-222-1307
Anne Arundel County Planning and Zoning
Anne Arundel County, MD
Tel: 410-222-7440 (ext. 3170)
Cultural Resources Division
Anne Arundel County Public Libraries (AACPL)
Anne Arundel County Register of Wills
Circuit Courthouse
7 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-222-1430, 800-679-6665
Fax: 410-222-1467
Anne Arundel County Zoning
Code Violations
Inspections and Permits
Forms and Publications
Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation, Inc.
P.O. Box 1573
Annapolis, MD 21404
E: actforpreservation@gmail.com
Anne Arundel Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1553
Glen Burnie, MD 21060
E: info@aagensoc.org
www.aagensoc.org
Maryland Genealogical Society
201 West Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
E: info@mdgensoc.org
www.mdgensoc.org
Maryland Historical Trust (MHT)
100 Community Place, 3rd Floor
Crownsville, MD 21032
Tel: 410-514-7600
www.mht.maryland.gov
Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties – Anne Arundel County
Maryland State Archives (MSA)
350 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-260-6400
www.msa.md.gov
Maryland State Law Library
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-260-1430, 800-216-8156
www.lawlib.state.md.us
Community Groups
Annapolis Historic District Commission
City of Annapolis, Dept. of Planning and Zoning
160 Duke of Gloucester St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-263-7941
Annapolis History Consortium
annapolis-history@googlegroups.com
Anne Arundel County’s Lost Towns Project
Anne Arundel County Historical Society, Inc. (AACHS)
P.O. Box 385
Linthicum, MD 21090-0385
www.aachs.org
Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM)
84 Franklin St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-216-6180
www.bdmuseum.com
Captain Avery Museum
1418 East West Shady Side Rd.
P.O. Box 89
Shady Side, MD 20784
Tel: 410-867-4486
Crownsville Veterans Cemetery
1122 Sunrise Beach Rd.
Crownsville, MD 21032
Tel: 410-987-6320
Deale Area Historical Society
389 Deale Rd.
Tracys Landing, MD 20779
Tel: 443-321-8720
www.dahs.us
Family History Center: Annapolis
1875 Ritchie Hwy.
Annapolis, MD 21409
Tel: 510-757-4173
www.familysearch.org
Fort George G. Meade Cemeteries
(Restricted access)
Demps Visitor Control Center
902 Reece Road
Fort Meade MD 20755
Tel: 301-677-1064 or 301-677-1065
Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
one military cemetery and several family cemeteries
Galesville Heritage Society, Inc. (GHS)
P.O. Box 373, 988 Main St.
Galesville, MD 20765-0373
www.galesvilleheritagesociety.org
Historic Annapolis Foundation
42 East St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: 410-267-7619
Historic Owensville Civic Association
4848 Sudley Rd.
West River, MD 20778
Tel: 410-867-2447
Kunte Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation
Administrative Offices and Library
{to be determined}
London Town Foundation
839 Londontown Rd.
Edgewater, MD 21037-2197
Tel: 410-222-1919
www.historiclondontown.org
Odenton Heritage Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 282
Odenton, MD 21113
Tel: 410-557-8913
www.odentonheritage.org
Odenton Genial Genealogists
c/o O’Malley Senior Center Annex
1270 Odenton Road
Odenton, MD 21113
https://odentongg.org/
Anne Arundel Trust
P.O. Box 1573
Annapolis, MD 21404
http://annearundeltrust.org
Shady Side Rural Heritage Society
P.O. Box 89
Shady Side, MD 20764
Tel: 410-867-4486
Museum
1418 Shady Rest Rd.
Shady Side, MD 20764
www.captainaverymuseum.org
United States Naval Academy Cemetery
101 Cooper Rd.
Annapolis, MD 21402-5027
www.usna.edu/cemetery
United States Naval Academy
Nimitz Library
589 McNair Rd.
Annapolis, MD 21402-5029
Tel: 410-293-2420
www.usna.edu/Library/sea/