Welcome back to our blog!
For this week’s entry, we’ll be discussing the birthplace of our
National Anthem, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.
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| Entrance Sign (apologies for the poor quality photo) |
BACKGROUND:
In
September 1814, the city of Baltimore came under assault by British forces who
were continuing their campaign in the Chesapeake Bay after burning the capital
of Washington D.C. in an effort to bring the War of 1812 to a close on terms
favorable to Britain. Baltimore, a major
seaport and haven for privateers (government sanctioned pirates), was deemed a
vital target. The British landed their
ground forces near the entrance to the harbor and proceeded to march overland to
attack the city from the east. American
fortifications however were too formidable for the British to make a direct
assault without fire support from their fleet.
In order for the ships of the Royal Navy to get close enough to provide cover
for the troops on land they would need to enter into Baltimore’s inner harbor,
the mouth of which was protected by Fort McHenry. If Baltimore was to be saved the fort would
need to hold and withstand the firepower of the British fleet.
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| The narrow channel to Baltimore's inner harbor as seen from Fort McHenry (note the reconstructed 1814 battery at the extreme left, and Civil War era cannon in the foreground) |
Beginning on September 13th,
the British bombarded the fort with cannon and rockets for over twenty-four
hours. The American defends hunkered
down within and fought back as best they could in a driving rainstorm. As shot and shell rained down on Fort McHenry,
an American lawyer named Francis Scott Key, who had been sent under a flag of
truce to secure the release of an American prisoner, watched with apprehension
from a British vessel to see if the fort’s storm flag would be lowered as a
sign of capitulation.
At
dawn on the 14th, with Fort McHenry still intact and the massive
bombardment having shown no effect on the defenders, the British decided to
withdraw rather than continue the futile assault. Upon seeing the British fleet begin to set
sail and depart, Fort McHenry’s commanding officer ordered that a massive flag
be hoisted to taunt to retreating British.
Francis Scott Key, still offshore, was so moved by the sight of the flag
waving above the fort he immediately set pen to paper jotting down a poem. Within a week, the poem was set to the tune
of a drinking song and became a favorite patriotic tune. Over time its popularity grew, and the song,
the Star-Spangled Banner, was adopted
as the National Anthem of the United States in 1931.
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| The fort's parapet |
Fort
McHenry itself has changed much since the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. Originally built in 1798, the fort was
modernized following the War of 1812, serving as a prison for Confederate POWs
during the Civil War. The fort remained
in use with the Army until 1923, being used as a hospital during World War One,
and even reactivated as a Coast Guard station during World War Two. Ownership of Fort McHenry was transferred to
the National Parks Service in 1925 and was given the unique designation of ‘National
Monument & Historic Shrine’ in 1939.
THE MONUMENT:
Situated
at the end of the Locust Point Peninsula overlooking the narrow entrance to
Baltimore Harbor, Fort McHenry and its surrounding grounds have been restored
as much as possible to way the fort appeared during the Battle of Baltimore in
1814. Just past the gate is the Visitor
Center, which includes exhibits and a short film on the Battle of Baltimore and
the Star-Spangled Banner. Due to the extensive modernization that occurred after
1814 the cannons present at the fort today date from the Civil War, although a
War of 1812 era battery has been reconstructed.
Within the fort are the enlisted men’s barracks, officers’ quarters, and
magazines, which are open to the public and have interpretive signs and
exhibits within.
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| The fort's Parade Ground, barracks (buildings at rear), and powder magazine (curved roofed structure at right) |
TRAVEL TIPS:
Visitors
should map out their path to Fort McHenry prior to visiting as the roads of the
Locust Point area can be potentially confusing to navigate for drivers. There is also a water taxi available from
downtown Baltimore. It is recommended
that visitors come early in the day to avoid crowds and hot weather in the
summer months. If you arrive early
enough you may get to participate in the morning flag raising, where a replica
of the storm flag which flew during the battle or the Star-Spangled Banner is
hoisted up the flag pole. The short film
in the Visitor Center is also highly recommended, and gives a stirring
recreation of the events surrounding the battle and penning of the National
Anthem. Reenactor events are held
somewhat frequently, especially in September when the city holds celebrations
of the anniversary of the battle. If you
are collecting passport stamps, you will find them at the front desk in the
Visitor Center. Please note, if you have
children, while it may be tempting to allow them to run around or crew the guns
to fight off imaginary enemies, please remember that this, like other
battlefields, is considered a hallowed site, so please remember to be
respectful. In addition, some areas of
the fort, particularly the high drops from the walls, could be dangerous for
young children.
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| Morning flag raising ceremony |
If
you are interested in seeing the original fifteen star and fifteen stripe
Star-Spangled Banner, you will need to travel to nearby Washington D.C. The flag is located in the Smithsonian’s
Museum of American History, in a special exhibit to minimize further damage to
the flag and help with its preservation.
As such, photography of the flag is now prohibited.
We
hope you enjoyed this brief summary of Fort McHenry National Monument &
Historic Shrine! For our next post we
will be returning to the Midwest for the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.
Additional Photos:
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| The fort viewed from the visitor center |
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| The replica storm flag |
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| Baltimore's outer harbor as seen from the fort |
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| The fort's Civil War era batteries |
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