Fort McHenry (and the Star Spangled Banner)

Fort McHenry 

(and the Star Spangled Banner) 

Fort McHenry, famous for the location of the flag written about by Francis Scott Key when he wrote the Star Spangled Banner. 

Many people think it was in relation to the Revolutionary War when we fought for our independence from England but actually it was in the War of 1812 which lasted for three years. Many don't know we had to fight a second time to remain free of Britain. As the plaque below details (sorry for the angle of the image but only way to keep lighting from messing up image) it is a forgotten war.

The British were trying to attack Baltimore and had to take possession of Fort McHenry to do so. So the British sailed into the Bay to attack. 

Francis Key was on board a British ship out in the bay. 

 (If you can't read the fine print) Key was negotiating the release of an American in a prisoner of war exchange.  Unfortunately, the British became aware the Key and his associate had become aware of the impending attack by the British upon Ft. McHenry and detained Key until the attack was over.

Photo of the embarkments. 

View of the bay from the viewpoint of Ft McHenry cannons. 

History records the attack was long and heavy with the cannons firing all night. As the sun came up Key and the British were anxious to see which flag was flying over Ft McHenry. The rest is history as we all know the answer. The museum there has illustrations of the draft he wrote and the changes in wording he made. 

Yes, the flag has a different count than today's flag. See image below for which flag flies when. 

By the way, they have plaques of each state in the ground as you enter the site. Each state's plaque is placed in the order they entered the United States. Georgia, my home state is #4. (I always thought it was the third to enter the US.)

A  trivia question, what was the last state to be admitted before Alaska and Hawaii? I.I the 48th state?
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 Coming up next Buildings of Baltimore and then the Clock Tower and then the ships.