Annapolis — Cincinnatus's Secret Oath
Uncover George Washington's hidden oath to the Society of Cincinnatus in Annapolis. Decipher clues across historic landmarks to expose the conspiracy that shaped America's founding before it's lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In December 1783, George Washington stood in the Maryland State House in Annapolis and resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief, evoking the Roman hero Cincinnatus who relinquished power for the
Relive the birth of the American Republic in Annapolis, following in the footsteps of George Washington and Maryland's Founding Fathers.
Step into the shoes of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, an ancient Roman dictator and republican model invoked by the Founders. You are an archivist on a quest for the "Secret Oath of Cincinnatus," a mysterious commitment said to have sealed the destiny of the young American nation in Annapolis, Maryland. At each stop, your phone reveals augmented reality clues: ancient documents superimpose onto the facades of the Maryland State House, handwritten letters appear on the Equestrian Statue of George Washington, and engraved symbols unveil themselves on the historic cobblestones. Over approximately 135 minutes, you traverse 1.5 km through Annapolis's iconic monuments, uncovering precise facts and historical anecdotes. More than an outdoor escape game: an interactive tour immersed in 200 years of history, with anecdotes revealed at each stop and confidential sites that classic guides often miss.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
« Fretensis Maryland »— Official motto of the State of Maryland, adopted in 1951
The story that haunts this land
Your quest for the "Secret Oath" begins in Annapolis, in front of the Maryland State House, a National Historic Landmark built between 1772 and 1779. This edifice, the third oldest government building in continuous use in the United States, was the scene of George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. Its 17.7-meter wooden dome, copper-covered in 1875, dominates the Colonial Annapolis Historic District. The Governor of Maryland still presides here, marking the historical starting point of many foundational events that shaped the republic.
Right in front of the Annapolis State House, you discover the Equestrian Statue of George Washington, sculpted by Antoine-Louis Busti in 1795-1796. It is the first public equestrian statue of Washington in the United States, erected in 1796 with funding from the State of Maryland. Washington is depicted in a general's uniform, on a rearing horse measuring approximately 3.7 meters in total height. This monument was a silent witness to Washington's resignation in 1783, symbolizing the birth of the republic and the ideal of Cincinnatus, the citizen-soldier returning to civilian life.
Your journey then leads you to the Old Treasury Building, a two-story Georgian brick building, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Built in 1735 as a tobacco warehouse, it was converted into Maryland's treasury in 1769, storing colonial and state funds until 1843. Restored in 1987, it now houses government offices and embodies the financial management of the young nation. Nearby, you can see St. Anne's Church, whose steeple, added in 1869, is visible 1.5 km around the State House, recalling the presence of Maryland's first settlers as early as 1695.
Continue towards the William Paca House & Garden, the residence built in 1765 by William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence (1740-1799). The 2-acre formal garden, restored according to original plans from the 1760s, was designated a National Historic Site in 1971. Located approximately 0.8 km from the Maryland State House, this property is furnished with colonial-era artifacts and has offered guided tours since 1975. It represents the life of the elites who shaped the history of Annapolis and the Maryland Historic District.
Your exploration culminates at City Dock, Annapolis's historic port since 1649, which was a colonial commercial center with wooden wharves. It was here, 1 km from the State House, that the Continental Congress ship arrived in 1783. Restored in the 1980s, it still hosts annual festivals like the Boat Show since 1970. A short walk away, Reynolds Tavern, built in 1747, hosted George Washington in 1783-1784. This thematic circuit in Annapolis will have allowed you to grasp the essence of Maryland's heritage, from its republican foundations to the living places of its heroes.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Lost Manuscript
Reconstruct a crucial historical document, lost to the annals.
Republican Virtue
Explore the ideals that founded American democracy.
Colonial Architecture
Discover 18th-century architectural gems.
Le pouvoir n'est pas une fin, mais un moyen au service de la liberté.
Un message intemporel pour une jeune nation.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Relive the birth of the American Republic in Annapolis, following in the footsteps of George Washington and Maryland's Founding Fathers.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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