Fort McHenry Is More Than a Song

Fort McHenry withstood a brutal attack from the British during the War of 1812 and is remembered for inspiring the United States' national anthem.

For 25 hours in 1814, Fort McHenry (above) withstood more than 1,500 rounds of British mortar fire from ships in Baltimore’s harbor. When Francis Scott Key, a lawyer detained overnight on a British ship, saw the American flag still flying over the fort in the early morning of September 14, he composed the words to a song first known as “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” later retitled “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which later became America’s national anthem.

This pivotal event in the War of 1812 has made Fort McHenry, named for the second secretary of war, James McHenry, a destination for more than half a million visitors to Baltimore every year. Built in 1798, the fort has a distinctive star shape that made it possible to defend with as few as five men.

The twilight tattoo ceremony, an evening review of soldiers, is a long-standing tradition at Fort McHenry. The ceremony ends with the folding of a 9-by-13-meter Star-Spangled Banner flag and the firing of the fort's large evening gun.

Defenders Day, commemorating the defense of the fort, is celebrated on September 12 each year with fireworks and re-enactments. Every May, 3,500 to 4,500 schoolchildren in red, white and blue create a "Living American Flag" at the fort.