Fort McHenry- The Birth of the Star Spangled Banner.The Battle of Baltimore-
In 1814 the British Navy tried to take Baltimore and was not successful as the British Navy retreated the next morning thru all the smoke from the cannons our flag was still there and this
inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem which later became the Star Spangled Banner. Then became our Nation Anthem in 1931. The original Flag is still hanging in the Smithsonian and was made out of wool and measured 42 x 30 feet. Maj George Armistead wanted Fort McHenry's flag to be large enough that the "British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance".
Fort Mc Henry never again came under enemy fire, although it continued as an active military post for the next 100 years. During the Civil War it was a temporary prison for confederate soldiers. From 1917-1923 it was an army hospital for WWI Veterans. In 1925 Congress made the Fort a National Park, then, 14 years later it was redesignated a National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Below are some pictures of the Fort and the guardhouse and officers quarters.
The fort primarily used Cannons 18, 24, and 36 lbs solid iron cannonballs which was mostly found on ships the range was about 1 1/4 miles and not very accurate.
In 1814 the British Navy tried to take Baltimore and was not successful as the British Navy retreated the next morning thru all the smoke from the cannons our flag was still there and this
inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem which later became the Star Spangled Banner. Then became our Nation Anthem in 1931. The original Flag is still hanging in the Smithsonian and was made out of wool and measured 42 x 30 feet. Maj George Armistead wanted Fort McHenry's flag to be large enough that the "British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance".
Fort Mc Henry never again came under enemy fire, although it continued as an active military post for the next 100 years. During the Civil War it was a temporary prison for confederate soldiers. From 1917-1923 it was an army hospital for WWI Veterans. In 1925 Congress made the Fort a National Park, then, 14 years later it was redesignated a National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Below are some pictures of the Fort and the guardhouse and officers quarters.
The fort primarily used Cannons 18, 24, and 36 lbs solid iron cannonballs which was mostly found on ships the range was about 1 1/4 miles and not very accurate.
