What state sits right in the middle of the original thirteen colonies and donated land for the nation's capital? Maryland. On April 28, 1788, it became the 7th state to ratify the United States Constitution. Its location made it essential to the new nation. Maryland sits between the northern and southern states on the Atlantic coast. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the country, cuts deep into the state. This bay provided natural harbors for trade and fishing. Baltimore grew into one of the busiest ports on the East Coast. Maryland's geography also made it important for transportation. Roads and later railroads connecting the north and south had to pass through the state. The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., was eventually built on land donated by Maryland and Virginia. This put the capital in a central location between northern and southern states. Maryland's landscape is surprisingly varied for a small state. The eastern shore along the Chesapeake is flat farmland. The western part rises into the Appalachian Mountains. This mix of coast, plains, and mountains packed into one state made Maryland a crossroads of American geography and culture.