Blogs from Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, North America

I recently enjoyed a work trip up to Baltimore (Maryland), and found myself with a morning to kill due to a cancelled meeting on the final day. My work colleague, Sean, who also doubled as my tourist guide suggested a trip to Fort McHenry, battle site during the English/American War of 1812, and known as the birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner. Now I always had pictures in my head of the American forces stoutly defending the fort against the better trained and equipped redcoats, teaching them a lesson in tenacity they would not soon remember (not unlike the way we beat the Poms in the Cricket world cup, but I digress.....). However, the story doesn't quite go like that..... After giving US forces in DC a bit of a 'pantsing', the Brits headed for Baltimore ... read more

Had a meeting in Washington, DC and decided to stayover the weekend to explore and site see. Having been to Baltimore and the Inner Harbor several times in the past and with a weekend to see some sites, I decided to view some of the historical locals that I've previously overlooked. Headed first for Fort McHenry which was the Fort which protected Port Baltimore for many years. It famously did so during the War of 1812 (fought from 1812-1815), so much so that it inspired Frances Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner. As noted on the Fort McHenry site, "“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,” a large red, white and blue banner? “Whose broad stripes and bright stars . . . were so gallantly streaming!” over the star-shaped Fort McHenry during ... read more