Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
A star-shaped fort and open harbor views place the Battle of Baltimore and the origins of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on their actual ground.
Artwork inspired by Francis Blackwell Mayer
Fort McHenry’s low earthworks make more sense when seen against the harbor they defended. During the British bombardment in September 1814, the fort helped prevent an approach to Baltimore by water. Francis Scott Key’s response to the flag over the fort became the text later adopted as the United States national anthem.
The surviving military landscape also outlasted that single night: later uses and changing defenses complicate an easy picture of a site frozen in 1814. Begin with the visitor-center interpretation, then walk the ramparts and waterfront to understand the distances involved. The flag story is strongest when connected to the fort’s position, its defenders, and the city behind it.
- Battle
- September 1814
- Form
- Five-point star fort
- Free areas
- Visitor center and outer grounds
Quick guide
- Begin
- Watch the orientation film before walking into the fort.
- Read the harbor
- Follow the seawall to understand the defended approach.
Know before you go
- Take the long view
- Look from the defenses toward the harbor approach and Baltimore.
- Read changing uses
- Fort history continues beyond the War of 1812.
- Separate the flags
- Interpretation distinguishes the historic banner from flags flown here today.
- Mind the gate
- Leave time to exit before the whole park closes.
Good to know
The enormous original Star-Spangled Banner is preserved at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The flag flying over Fort McHenry is not that original textile.
Notice these
- Angled earthworks
- Harbor-facing guns
- Flagstaff above the ramparts