Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Sept. 19, 2024

The battle that occurred here in 1814 inspired the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner. I felt right in the song when walking along the ramparts with the original configuration flag flying over head. The star shaped fort has cannons facing into the Patapsco River entrance to Baltimore. The British had already burned the white house during the war of 1812 and were trying to capture Baltimore. This fort was the only thing in their way and their fleet bombarded it. Francis Scott Key was being held aboard a British ship and witnessed the battle with the US flag still flying in the morning. The current fort is still the same shape but has much newer larger cannons. I was able to walk around the grounds, the sea wall trail and in all the buildings inside the fort.