giradman
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Baltimore & Ft. McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Susan and I attended a nephew's wedding in Catonsville, MD near Baltimore a few days ago - we took a non-stop flight to D.C.'s National Airport, rented a car and drove to the Baltimore area for several nights - I've been to Baltimore many times and have seen all of the historic sites EXCEPT Ft. McHenry - so before checking into our hotel, we visited the fort.
Ft. McHenry is most famous for defending Baltimore in the War of 1812 - the British planned a combined land and sea attack to take the city (see battle map below); the land attempt was repulsed and the naval bombardment a failure - the British did not want to move their ships close to Ft. McHenry in fear of the guns and 'hot shot', so they simply left and Baltimore was saved. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, was aboard a ship and on the morning of September 14, 1814, saw the newly raised garrison flag (15 stars & 15 stripes) still standing, and inspiring the words that became 'The Star Spangled Banner', the USA's national anthem - see quotes below and link for more information.
Pics below (first few from the web the rest are mine) show the fort, the new visitor's center (opened in 2011), and the fort - some of the cannons are post-1812 - after the wedding, we returned the car and then came into D.C. for 4 nights staying at the historic Willard Hotel - yesterday, we saw the restored 'Star Spangled Banner' flag - more on the flag and on what we did in D.C. in following posts. Dave
Susan and I attended a nephew's wedding in Catonsville, MD near Baltimore a few days ago - we took a non-stop flight to D.C.'s National Airport, rented a car and drove to the Baltimore area for several nights - I've been to Baltimore many times and have seen all of the historic sites EXCEPT Ft. McHenry - so before checking into our hotel, we visited the fort.
Ft. McHenry is most famous for defending Baltimore in the War of 1812 - the British planned a combined land and sea attack to take the city (see battle map below); the land attempt was repulsed and the naval bombardment a failure - the British did not want to move their ships close to Ft. McHenry in fear of the guns and 'hot shot', so they simply left and Baltimore was saved. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, was aboard a ship and on the morning of September 14, 1814, saw the newly raised garrison flag (15 stars & 15 stripes) still standing, and inspiring the words that became 'The Star Spangled Banner', the USA's national anthem - see quotes below and link for more information.
Pics below (first few from the web the rest are mine) show the fort, the new visitor's center (opened in 2011), and the fort - some of the cannons are post-1812 - after the wedding, we returned the car and then came into D.C. for 4 nights staying at the historic Willard Hotel - yesterday, we saw the restored 'Star Spangled Banner' flag - more on the flag and on what we did in D.C. in following posts. Dave
Fort McHenry is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort located in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy from the Chesapeake Bay on September 13–14, 1814. It was first built in 1798 and was used continuously by the U.S. armed forces through World War I and by the Coast Guard in World War II. It was designated a national park in 1925, and in 1939 was redesignated a "National Monument and Historic Shrine". (Source)
.During the War of 1812 a storm flag (17 by 25 feet) was flown over Fort McHenry during the bombardment. It was replaced early on the morning of September 14, 1814 with a larger garrison flag (30 by 42 feet). The larger flag signaled American victory over the British in the Battle of Baltimore. The sight of the ensign inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry" that was later set to the tune "To Anacreon in Heaven" and became known as the "Star Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States. (Source)