Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Abandoned Observatory of the Pioneer Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
1 day ago
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
2 days ago
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
2 days ago
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All the United States Maryland Fort Meade

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Fort Meade

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

Updated January 2, 2018

Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Fort Meade

Entrance to the museum

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.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
Permanently Closed
Crib in a hall

Laurel, Maryland

Forest Haven Asylum

This abandoned asylum was once a state of the art facility before devolving into one of the most deadly mental institutions in American history.
3 miles from Fort Meade
Display cases.

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
Gallstones

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
Model of a partial dinosaur skeleton.

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
Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.

Halethorpe, Maryland

Maryland's 3rd Congressional District

A winding district gerrymandered into the shape of a mantis.
8 miles from Fort Meade
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

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.

View Itinerary
These Civil War guns are located at Fort Washington in Maryland.

Explore Fort Meade, Maryland

A
Collections 2

Fort Meade Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. AllisonEng
    1
  2. Elliot Carter
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Fort Meade.

Places Edited

  1. AllisonEng
    1
  2. AF
    1
  3. Elliot Carter
    1
  4. mreames
    1
  5. pnorloff
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. Lambchoptheplant
    2
  2. pearlbeyond
    2
  3. fnc122431
    2
  4. jim24rome
    2
  5. lhfixer
    2
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Fort Meade.

Recent Fort Meade Activity

  • A Bear

    wants to go to Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

    5 days ago
  • britceline13

    wants to go to National Cryptologic Museum

    5 days ago
  • Twizz

    wants to go to National Cryptologic Museum

    4 days ago
  • Twizz

    wants to go to Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

    4 days ago
  • hauntedbydeadlines

    wants to go to National Cryptologic Museum

    3 days ago

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.