Visit the Birthplace of Our National Anthem

"O say can you see, by the dawn's early light..." Every American knows the words to our beloved national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The song's history is rooted here in Baltimore, dating back to the War of 1812, when soldiers at Fort McHenry defended our city from a British naval attack. The upcoming Fourth of July holiday is an appropriately patriotic time to plan a visit to Fort McHenry. But any time is a good time to explore this National Park Service site in Baltimore – the only one in the U.S. to be designated as both a National Monument and a Historic Shrine.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was one of America’s most popular patriotic tunes for more than a century before becoming our national anthem in 1931. Its words were penned by attorney and amateur poet Francis Scott Key, who witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry on Sept. 13-14, 1814. In this day-long Battle of Baltimore, American troops successfully defended Baltimore with unrelenting cannon fire on British ships. Unable to penetrate the harbor, the British depleted their ammunition and ceased their attack.

Francis Scott Key witnessed this battle from a nearby truce ship and watched as a large American flag was raised over the fort the next morning, signifying the American victory. This is the scene that inspired him to write his poem, "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which later became our national anthem.

Today, Fort McHenry stands in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore and is a recreational center for locals and a popular tourist destination. Visitors can easily access the site by water taxi from Inner Harbor or by a free bus. The National Park Service offers an introductory film, ranger-guided and self-guided tours, living history demonstrations, museum exhibits, and more. In September, Fort McHenry hosts its biggest celebration of the year when it commemorates Defenders' Day in honor of the Battle of Baltimore with a weekend of programs, events and fireworks.

As a side note, the original Star-Spangled Banner flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. This treasured piece of American history has deteriorated to an extremely fragile condition, but after undergoing restoration, it is now on display in a special exhibit that allows it to lie at a slight angle in dim light.

"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." – Francis Scott Key