When the British attacked Chesapeake Bay on September 13, 1814, the U.S. Army was waiting in the star-shaped coastal battlements of Fort McHenry. Their might overpowered the British, and in the early morning hours of September 14, the officers at Fort McHenry raised a garrison flag, measuring 30 feet by 42 feet over the fort, signalling victory.

Francis Scott Key was so moved by this sight that he penned a poem called “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” which was later set to music as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Active until the end of World War II, the fort is now a National Historic Monument curated by the National Park Service. A visitor center and twice-daily flag rituals educate visitors on the crucial defensive role played by the fort.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, 2406 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, Phone: 410-962-4290

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