The Atlas Obscura Guide To Fort Meade

2 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Fort Meade, Maryland

Updated January 2, 2018

Unusual Attractions in Fort Meade

Fort Meade, Maryland

National Cryptologic Museum

A priceless collection of the Nation's cryptologic history.

The original “flame of knowledge” that once graced the Library of Congress and was replaced with facsimile in 1996.

Fort Meade, Maryland

Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

A remote horde of architectural treasures fit for Indiana Jones.

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A small trail leads to the river bank where the bottom of the bridge can be viewed

Savage, Maryland

Bollman Truss Bridge

This is the last surviving Bollman truss bridge in the world.

5 miles from Fort Meade

Laurel, Maryland

On the Brink

A haunting exhibit in a wildlife refuge center highlights threatened species and the conservation efforts needed to save them.

7 miles from Fort Meade

Linthicum Heights, Maryland

Urology Museum

Fascinating museum dedicated to the under-appreciated medical history of urology features some wince-inducing devices.

7 miles from Fort Meade

Laurel, Maryland

Laurel Dinosaur Park

This dig site outside D.C. is known for its exceptionally high density of baby dinosaur fossils and dinosaur eggs.

8 miles from Fort Meade

Halethorpe, Maryland

Maryland's 3rd Congressional District

A winding district gerrymandered into the shape of a mantis.

8 miles from Fort Meade

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Historic Military Relics in Maryland

Maryland has the distinction of being one of the first states to officially join the Union in 1788—and as such, it’s played both big and small roles in various battles across the nation's history. Here are eight nods to its military past, ranging from a furnace that produced George Washington’s cannonballs to an unusual museum dedicated to the U.S.'s cryptographic history.

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