Fort McHenry, Baltimore

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Fort McHenry was one of the principal forts guarding the harbor of Baltimore. And most famously, events there during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner" which became the national anthem of the United States.

You can take a tour of the fort which has great views of the harbor. Walk along the embankments that once protected the fort and look at the cannons (or stick your head in one!). The fort still flies an oversized American flag that you can help raise and lower. I was lucky to be there on Flag Day (June 14th) when they had some special events.

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In 1814, Francis Scott Key was a prisoner on a British ship during the Battle for Baltimore. As the battle raged on all night long, Key wondered about the fate of those in the fort. As the morning light appeared, Key saw the flag still flying and knew that the USA had won the battle. From this experience, Key wrote the poem that has since become the national anthem of the United States – “Star Spangled Banner.”

Today, you can visit the fort that Key saw from the ship. And, if you are lucky, you will be there when the park rangers bring out a replica of the flag he saw (the original is hanging in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC). The flag was massive and it takes a large number of people (50+) to hold it – which is why the rangers don’t always bring out the flag (there needs to be a large group there or a very crowded day with lots of visitors).

As you enter the grounds, you begin with the museum – a small display of memorabilia from the fort’s history. There is a nice scale map of the fort that puts everything into perspective. Be sure to see the movie before you head into the fort. Not only does it give you a good overview of the War of 1812 and the Battle for Baltimore, but it is moving at the end when the curtains open and you look out onto the flag flying above the fort as the national anthem plays.

In the fort, the museum continues with the barracks and other buildings opened up for viewing, many with artifacts arranged and everything well described in signs. You can walk around the wall of the five sided star shaped fort that looks out over the entrance to Baltimore Harbor.
On nice days, the grounds of Fort McHenry make a wonderful picnic ground and the breezes from the water make kite flying a lot of fun.

There is a fee to enter the fort ($7/adults, children are free); however, if you are with an educational group, you can get a waiver if you act in advance (a form needs to be faxed to the fort – see website for details). The fee is good for seven days.

Getting there is not too hard – either by car or by bus (bus #1 stops in front of the fort). It is about three miles from the Inner Harbor.

The Star Spangled Banner
~ Francis Scott Key, 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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Not only being one of our most cherished historical places. It has a beautiful view from the fort. Make sure you explore all the buildings, displays and roam the grounds. Hopefully you come here on a clear day.

This is one of the most significant events in our history that gave birth to our most beloved National Anthem of the United States of America. A song created by Francis Scott Key that was witness to the battle of Baltimore and how our cherished and beloved flag endure the bombardment by the British on Fort McHenry.

The flag that is on display now is a replica of the one that is now in the Smithsonian in DC. It is measured 42 by 30 feet and was made by Mary Pickersgill. The fort has a wonderful display of exhibits and the visitor center presents a movie of the events that lead up to the battle and thereof.

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This fort also served as a prison during the Civil War and a welcoming point for thousands of European Immigrants.

This place witness one of the most significant events in our history that gave birth to our most beloved National Anthem of the United States of America. A song created by Francis Scott Key that was witness to the battle of Baltimore and how our cherished and beloved flag endure the bombardment by the British on Fort McHenry.

The flag that is on display now is a replica of the one that is now in the Smithsonian in DC. It is measured 42 by 30 feet and was made by Mary Pickersgill. The fort has a wonderful display of exhibits and the visitor center presents a movie of the events that lead up to the battle and thereof.

This is one of the most significant events in our history that gave birth to our most beloved National Anthem of the United States of America. A song created by Francis Scott Key that was witness to the battle of Baltimore and how our cherished and beloved flag endure the bombardment by the British on Fort McHenry.

The flag that is on display now is a replica of the one that is now in the Smithsonian in DC. It is measured 42 by 30 feet and was made by Mary Pickersgill. The fort has a wonderful display of exhibits and the visitor center presents a movie of the events that lead up to the battle and thereof.

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Fort McHenry is located just a few miles outside of downtown Baltimore and is famous as the location of the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. This battle took place in 1814 towards the end of the War of 1812 and Key was aboard a "truce ship" in the harbor that was sent to negotiate prisoner releases. During the battle the British navy was repulsed after more than a day of bombardment and four Americans were killed defending the city.

The fort was designed and constructed in 1798, and it was named after President Washington's Secretary of War, James McHenry. The star-shaped fortification sits at the tip of Locust Point, and it was Baltimore's primary defensive site until it was replaced by Fort Carroll. The fort was later used as a prison during the Civil War, as a hospital during WWI, and as a Coast Guard Base in WWII.

Entrance is $7 per person for a day visit, or free with your $80 National Parks Pass.

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If you have read any of my other VT pages you will know that I love statues. When I travel I can't pass a statue without taking a picture. I love to read their history afterwards and research information about them on the internet, all as a part of my visit to the city or country where they are located. There are many monuments and statues in Baltimore. This very large statue called Orpheus is located at Fort McHenry. The base is 13 feet tall and the sculpture itself is 24 feet tall. It was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry. The statue reminded me somewhat of Michaelangelo's David. When I did some research on the sculpture I found that the artist had indeed studied in Italy so this may explain the resemblence.

Its quite impressive to see the massive flag flying at Fort McHenry. When you first enter the fort there is a visitors center run by the National Parks Service. After paying your admission to the Fort you can walk a 15 minute movie about the fort, its role in the War of 1812 and about the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. As the movie ends and the National Anthem is played a large curtain against the side wall is opened. This reveals a large wall sized window. As the curtain opens you start to see the huge flag waving just s few feet away in the Fort. Its a very moving moment.

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When visiting Baltimore I would highly recommend a visit to Ft. McHenry. Ft. McHenry is now part of the National Parks Service. There is a $7.00 admission charge. You can tour the historic fort, walk throught the parks, and get a beautiful view of the harbor in Baltimore. There is a very interesting short film shown at the visitors center every half hour.

When the Brittish military burned Washington DC in the War of 1812, their ships then set sail up the Cheseapeake Bay for an attack on Baltimore. At the time Baltimore was one of the largest cities in the United States. Major George Armistead and his forces defended the city from Fort McHenry and the Brittish fleet retreated saving the city and making a major turning point in the war. After the War of 1812 the fort was used during the American Civil War as a prisoner of war camp. During World War I it was used a hospital for injured soldiers returning home. Ft. McHenry greatest claim to fame is the fact that the Star Spangled Banner was written about the flag flying at the Fort the morning after the attack in the War of 1812.

Although I have advised visitors in this tip that Ft. McHenry is a must see when visiting Baltimore, I have to admit that as a life long resident of the area I have only been here twice. And both visits have been since I was an adult. Sometimes we just don't appreciate the history and interests that are right in our own front yards. I now fully appreciate the Fort and its beautiful location.

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It's only about four minutes into this movie about Fort McHeny and the history of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and they've already introduced about 12 characters. I don't know what the hell they're talking about anymore. ...Something about a doctor. Anyway, the film finally ends showing an oversized American flag in the breeze while the national anthem plays. A curtain on the side of the theatre is automatically drawn to reveal a window through which the same giant flag is flapping in the fort's courtyard, mirroring the one on the movie screen. Nice effect. A bit cheesy, but...
Fort McHenry is best known for it's role in the Battle of 1812 when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbour against a massive British naval attack that started on September 13, 1814. This was actually the first and only battle the fort was ever involved with throughout its history. The British launched bombs mercilessly at the fort from their ships for 25 hours straight. When the battle was finally over and the British withdrew their forces, a lawyer named Francis Scott Key, who had witnessed the barrage from a nearby ship, wrote a poem about what he'd seen called "The Defense of Fort McHenry". The poem was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the country's national anthem.
The fort itself doesn't take too long see--lots of little rooms to peek your head in, you can walk the cannon ramparts, see the barracks and the gunpowder storage rooms. Umm... And there's also a real wedding going on here with some of the guests in period costume, but I won't get into that.
Fort McHenry is definitely a good place to spend a peaceful few hours on a tour of Baltimore. ...And If you can actually follow the movie in the welcome centre, please let me know what it was about.