National Maryland Day: Interesting Facts About 'The Old Line State'

National Maryland Day is observed on Aug. 24 to celebrate the seventh state to join the Union. It's the perfect occasion for people everywhere to celebrate and perhaps learn about "the Old Line state."

Since 2017, National Day Calendar has been celebrating each U.S. state in order of their entry into the Union. The occasion is not to be mistaken with Maryland Day observed on March 25, which commemorates the day that settlers disembarked from the Ark and Dove sailing ships and onto Maryland soil.

National Maryland Day simply celebrates the state's people and history, from its "deeply rooted maritime heritage" to its rich culture.

"Many states have their own state celebrations and National Day Calendar's observances in no way replace them," the outlet noted. "There's so much more to explore, we can't help but celebrate our beautiful country even more!"

People can join the celebration by getting to know Maryland more through exploring the many things the state has to offer. Those who would like to relax and have fun in the water may go to its beaches while foodies may head to Maryland's Ice Cream Trail or perhaps enjoy its seafood restaurants.

On this day, let's get to know the Old Line state a little deeper with some interesting facts. (Courtesy: National Day Calendar, the government of Maryland, National Geographic Kids, and theFACTfile)

1. The first people who lived in what is now known as the state of Maryland came to the area about 13,000 years ago. Later on, the region was occupied by Native American tribes such as the Powhatan, Susquehannock and Shawnee tribes.
2. The state gets its name from Queen Henrietta Maria of England, who granted permission for Maryland to be a colony.
3. The nickname "the Old Line State" is believed to be in honor of the 400 Revolutionary War soldiers who fought 10,000 British soldiers during a battle in 1776. This "Maryland line" held off the British "just long enough" for the others in the American army to escape.
4. The first dental school in the world is the St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. In 1839, it became the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.
5. Maryland's state flower is the black-eyed Susan and its state bird is the Baltimore oriole.
6. The last ship to survive from the Civil War, the USS Constellation, is docked in Baltimore.
7. Maryland became an important part of the Underground Railroad thanks to the efforts of Maryland native Harriet Tubman, who fled to escape slavery but came back to help rescue others.
8. Maryland is sometimes called "America in Miniature" because of the wide topography that it possesses, from sandy dunes to marshlands and oak forests.
9. The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum in Susquehanna Flats is known as the "decoy capital of the world."
10. Some famous names from Maryland include the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, baseball player Babe Ruth and Francis Scott Key, who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.
11. Maryland is the home of some well-known companies such as McCormick & Company, Lockheed Martin, Under Armour and Black & Decker.
12. The "Maryland blue crab," also called the "Maryland crab" was named Maryland's state crustacean in 1989.