Fort McHenry

2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230, USA

Introduction

McHenry Castle is a five-star fortress located by the river. Due to its strategic importance, it has only experienced one war in its history, the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. This not-so-glorious war began in 1812 when the United States declared war on Britain while they were engaged in the Napoleonic Wars. However, ultimately, a peace treaty was signed, maintaining the status quo before the war. During this war, the British army invaded Washington and burned down most of the public buildings. They then headed towards their next target, Baltimore, but the defense of McHenry Castle was strong. After 25 hours of continuous bombardment, the British army had to retreat, and their land attack was repelled. The commander of the fortress, George Armistead, had hoped to raise a large flag on the fortress to boost morale. He received one of the two stars and stripes flags, which measured 40 feet long, 30 feet high, with 15 stars and 15 stripes. This flag flew high amidst the British artillery fire, inspiring Francis Scott Key's patriotic spirit and leading him to write the famous poem that would later become the national anthem of the United States. Today, this flag is a national treasure and is publicly displayed in the National Museum of American History in Washington, attracting thousands of visitors.