10 Strangest Landmarks in Maryland

Some odd nicknames are associated with the state of Maryland. It has been nicknamed "The Old Line State" because of a line of 400 soldiers, called the "Maryland Line," in the Revolutionary War who held off 10,000 British soldiers in 1776, allowing the rest of the army, which included George Washington, to escape. Maryland has also been referred to as the "Free State," dating to 1919 when Marylanders opposed prohibition, the law banning alcohol. In addition to some unusual nicknames, Maryland is home to a few strange landmarks. From a quaint, post-style windmill in Cambridge on the eastern shore to breathtaking waterfalls in the mountains of western Maryland, these landmarks are all extraordinary. Read on to discover 10 of the strangest landmarks in Maryland that you should visit.

Edgar Allan Poe's Grave, Baltimore

When writer Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, he was buried in an unmarked grave. After years of it not being maintained, the grave was marked with a piece of sandstone with "80" carved into it (for reasons that are unclear today). In the 1860s, Poe's cousin ordered a marble headstone, which was destroyed in a freak train accident while it was being created. Finally, in 1874, a monument was created to mark Poe's gravesite. However, it contains an error that has never been corrected. His birth date is incorrectly listed on the stone as January 20 instead of January 19.

In 1875, Poe's body was exhumed and moved to another grave, as the monument was too large to fit in the space above the original grave. This fantastic, macabre story could have been written by Poe himself. Today, you can visit Poe's grave for free or pay for a tour of Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, where the body is buried. See Poe's grave for yourself at 515 W. Fayette St. in Baltimore.

Trimper's Haunted House, Ocean City

Trimper's Haunted House has been on Ocean City's famous boardwalk since 1964 and is one of the last remaining haunted houses designed by famous designer Bill Tracy left in the world. Riding through this spooky haunted house is an experience that many visitors to Ocean City look forward to year after year. Visitors of all ages have been thrilled by the stunts, music, and lighting in the haunted house for decades.

Trimper's Haunted House was expanded to two stories in 1988 and still thrills riders today. The ride is 95 percent indoor, with air conditioning in the summertime, and two adults and one child can fit into each cart. Children must be at least 42 inches tall to ride. The haunted house is open from March through November, depending on weather, traffic, and maintenance needs. It can be found on S. Atlantic Ave. on Ocean City's boardwalk.

Private Toll Bridge, Oldtown

The first time you encounter Oldtown's Historic Toll Bridge, you might chuckle or do a double-take. A small wooden bridge with its own toll booth? A can on a stick is extended out the window of the tollbooth to collect the $1.50 toll. This low-water, 200-foot-long, 10-foot-wide wooden bridge has been privately owned since its construction in 1937 and is still in operation. It crosses the Potomac River from Oldtown, Maryland, to Green Spring, West Virginia. (The toll is collected on the Maryland side of the river).

This bridge is the only privately owned bridge in the state and one of the few in the country. While the bridge was deemed to be unsafe during the early 1990s, it was restored with grants from Maryland and West Virginia in 1999 and is still in use today. Currently, the bridge is owned by Oldtown Bridge Preservation, LLC. On the bridge's Facebook page, it says that the bridge is "open" from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (it is never really closed; only the toll booth is unmanned outside of these times and also during bad weather).

Vehicles are cautioned to take care when going over the bridge when the toll booth is unmanned. Paying the modest toll and crossing this bridge is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

Spocott Windmill, Cambridge

Just a few miles west of Cambridge, you will find Spocott Windmill, Maryland's only post-style windmill, which is a replica of an 1800s windmill that was rebuilt in 1972. The windmill is 10 feet tall and has 28-foot-long blades. The entire building rotates to catch the wind. The original Spocott Windmill was created in 1852, but succumbed to weather in 1888. Many other windmills followed, each of which was also lost to bad weather.

Finally, in 1972, Senator George L. Radcliffe, who was the son of the original windmill builder, had the Spocott Windmill reconstructed. Also at the site today is a "village," consisting of a one-room schoolhouse, small home, doctor's office, and country store. Admission to Spocott Windmill is free, and the property is open year-round. Spocott Windmill is located at 1609 Hudson Rd. in Cambridge.

Ocean Gallery World Center, Ocean City

Ocean Gallery World Center is another famous Ocean City boardwalk attraction and one of the most recognizable. The building was constructed of recycled materials in 1972 by Joe KroArt. Its exterior is covered with signs and paintings describing the wonderful artwork to be found inside and beckoning art lovers to enter. Walking into Ocean Gallery World Center, you will find countless posters, prints, and original artwork for sale. Some of the artwork consists of signed and numbered limited-edition prints. Framing is also done on-site.

Ocean Gallery has been featured in films and even has its own documentary. It is a tourist trap that is definitely worth a visit. It is open year-round, with limited hours in the winter. Check out Ocean Gallery World Center on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

George Washington's Headquarters, Cumberland

A rustic log cabin, built in the 1700s, sits in Cumberland, Maryland. This log cabin might seem commonplace until you learn that it was used as George Washington's Headquarters between 1755 and 1758 during the French and Indian War. Washington and his staff lived and worked at the cabin in Cumberland. Later, in 1794, when he was president, Washington also used this headquarters briefly during the Whiskey Rebellion.

The cabin was built by General Edward Braddock's men for Washington's use. Its original site was at 16 Washington Street. The cabin now sits at 38 Greene Street, about two blocks away. George Washington's Headquarters is not open to the public, but you can peek through the windows and see artifacts and furniture from the period. Don't be alarmed, however, when you see that a life-size wax figure of Washington also sits inside the cabin.

Washington Monument, Middletown

You might be thinking, "Isn't the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.?" Yes, but this is the original Washington Monument. This Washington Monument, a stone tower erected in 1827, was the first monument dedicated to George Washington's memory and still stands today. The monument is inside Washington Monument National Park atop South Mountain and is the perfect site for spotting migratory birds like falcons, eagles, and hawks. A hiking trail, which is part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, also exists in the park and is limited to foot traffic only.

The state park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset from April through October and 10 a.m. to sunset from November through March. Pets are allowed, but hunting is not permitted in the park. Picnicking and pavilions are also available. Group camping is allowed with reservations. See the original Washington Monument at 6620 Zittlestown Road, just two miles north of Alternate Route 40, in Middletown.

Muddy Creek Falls, Oakland

Found within Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland, Muddy Creek Falls is one of Maryland's highest waterfalls, at 53 feet tall. It is truly the highlight of the park (even though the park was named for Swallow Falls, which is just 16 feet high). Muddy Creek Falls is the result of the Muddy Creek falling into the gorge carved out by the Youghiogheny River. While you are at Muddy Creek Falls, you should visit the other two smaller falls in Swallow Falls State Park, Swallow Falls, and the six-foot-high Tolliver Falls. Although they are not as grand as Muddy Creek Falls, they are still breathtaking and deserving of photos.

Swallow Falls State Park is off US 219 between the towns of McHenry and Oakland. Once you get into the park, follow the signs, walk about a half-mile, and you will reach Muddy Creek Falls.

Paw Paw Canal Tunnel, Oldtown

The Paw Paw Canal Tunnel is an awesome feat of engineering on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Oldtown. Instead of building six miles of canal along the river, the C&O Canal Company built a tunnel through a ridge, now named Tunnel Hill. Work started on the tunnel in 1836, and it took 14 years to complete. The tunnel spans 3,118 feet and can be explored by foot.

It is open year-round but has wooden boards at the entrances during the winter (the tunnel can still be accessed through them). It is recommended that you bring a flashlight with you to the tunnel. Brass plates mark every 100 feet, telling the history of the tunnel, and can be read via flashlight. After you make your way through the tunnel, you might want to take the two-mile Tunnel Hill Trail, which offers beautiful views of the Paw Paw Bends, five horseshoe-shaped bends along the Potomac River.

John Wilkes Booth's Grave, Baltimore

After assassinating President Abraham Lincoln, his assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was killed while on the run in Port Royal, Virginia. His remains were buried and exhumed many times until they were finally released to his family in 1869. His family then transported his body to Baltimore, the city where he had grown up, and buried him in the family plot in Green Mount Cemetery with a blank headstone.

The family didn't construct an elaborate headstone for him, as they did not want to attract attention and, potentially, vandalism. Today, visitors to Booth's grave often leave pennies, head-side-up, on the headstone as a tribute to Lincoln. You can see it for yourself and leave your own pennies at 1501 Greenmount Ave. in Baltimore.

These bizarre Maryland landmarks are all part of the state's unique history, and each tells its own story. From a privately owned toll bridge in Oldtown to an old haunted house ride in Ocean City, these attractions help to create the quirky atmosphere of a state that mixes history with modernity. Whether you are a native Marylander or are just visiting, you should not miss seeing each of these strange Maryland landmarks.