{"id":7075376,"date":"2026-10-04T07:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T07:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075376"},"modified":"2026-10-04T07:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T07:47:03","slug":"experiencing-the-star-spangled-banner-at-fort-mchenry-love-laughter-and-luggage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075376","title":{"rendered":"Experiencing the Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry \u2013 Love, Laughter, and Luggage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the summer of 2023, we took a road trip that started at our home in Missouri, went north to Canada, and then made the trek along the East Coast. As the journey neared the final stretch, we found ourselves stopping in Baltimore for a night before heading into a three-night stay in D.C.<\/p>\n<p>One attraction we definitely wanted to see was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/fomc\/index.htm\">Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine<\/a>, home of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem, \u201cDefence of Fort M\u2019Henry,\u201d that would one day become our national anthem, \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner.\u201d Written September 4, 1814, after the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, the poem was soon set to the tune of a famous British song, \u201cTo Anacreon in Heaven,\u201d a melody we would recognize today as our national anthem, though arrangements over the years have varied slightly.<\/p>\n<p>Because of the battle and the relief of many Americans, including Key, approximately 400,000 people now visit the fort each year to pay tribute to those who defended Baltimore and to see the fort that launched the song that, in 1931, became the national anthem. In 2023, we were among those visitors.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Arriving_at_the_Visitor_Center\">Arriving at the Visitor Center<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you arrive at the fort, your visit will begin at the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center. If you only want to see the exhibits at the visitor center, you don\u2019t need to pay admission. To get to the actual fort, you\u2019ll need to purchase a pass or show your America the Beautiful pass. If you plan on visiting more than one site in the national park system, it\u2019s a good idea to consider purchasing the America the Beautiful pass.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3175-764x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"699\" height=\"937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3175-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3175-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3175-370x496.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3175.jpg 895w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As we approached the visitor center, we could see the Star Fort at Locust Point with the flag waving overhead.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12337\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-IMG_3177-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry and National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore \" width=\"696\" height=\"928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-IMG_3177-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-IMG_3177-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-IMG_3177-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-IMG_3177.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>After we showed our America the Beautiful passes and browsed the gift shop, we headed towards the exhibits in the visitor center. Below is Francis Scott Key himself. Or rather, his statue.<\/p>\n<p>Next to him is a rendering of what the Star-Spangled Banner looked like at the time of the battle. Interestingly, we would see the actual Star-Spangled Banner a few days later in Washington, D.C., at the National American History Museum of the Smithsonian.<\/p>\n<p><em>Side note: Nowadays, you can\u2019t photograph the flag at the Smithsonian; you have to go inside a special display room that protects it from light damage, where you are only allowed to view it. When I visited Washington, D.C., in 1992, the flag was still shown hourly for a few moments just outside the place where it\u2019s kept now. It was out in the open for several minutes every hour of the day during business hours. My dad used a video camera to capture the presentation, which included two versions of the \u201cStar-Spangled Banner\u201d played over speakers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-IMG_3179-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Site, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-IMG_3179-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-IMG_3179-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-IMG_3179-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-IMG_3179.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The visitor center does a great job of explaining the events leading up to the adoption of the national anthem.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-IMG_3181-870x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry and National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore \" width=\"700\" height=\"824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-IMG_3181-870x1024.jpg 870w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-IMG_3181-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-IMG_3181-370x436.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-IMG_3181.jpg 1019w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>My favorite part of the visitor center was viewing a film in the theater that ends with the screen moving away and this reveal below.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-IMG_3183-986x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry and National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore \" width=\"700\" height=\"727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-IMG_3183-986x1024.jpg 986w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-IMG_3183-289x300.jpg 289w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-IMG_3183-370x384.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-IMG_3183.jpg 1155w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>It was moving to see the reveal of the actual fort and flag. Now it was time to explore the fort for ourselves.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Walking_to_the_Waterfront\">Walking to the Waterfront<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The weather was perfect the day we visited Fort McHenry. Baltimore Harbor has changed over the years, but with some of the artifacts near the fort, you can visit the fort of the past in your imagination.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-IMG_3185-927x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-IMG_3185-927x1024.jpg 927w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-IMG_3185-272x300.jpg 272w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-IMG_3185-370x409.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-IMG_3185.jpg 1086w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I always like taking a stroll near water; Fort McHenry is no different in this regard. It\u2019s worth noting that the Seawall Trail is paved and accessible. It\u2019s free to walk the one-mile trail, so if you aren\u2019t planning to actually visit the fort, you can still walk and picnic at the waterfront of Baltimore Harbor and the Patapsco River.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-IMG_3186-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-IMG_3186-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-IMG_3186-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-IMG_3186-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-IMG_3186.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The fort has two water batteries armed with 18, 24, and 36-pounder cannons.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8-IMG_3191-912x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8-IMG_3191-912x1024.jpg 912w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8-IMG_3191-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8-IMG_3191-370x415.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8-IMG_3191.jpg 1069w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>According to the National Park Service website on Fort McHenry, \u201cEach could fire a solid iron ball, or shot, at a rate of 1800 feet per second, or close to one and a half miles. A crew of 18 men were [<em>sic<\/em>] needed to load and fire each gun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9-IMG_3192-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9-IMG_3192-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9-IMG_3192-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9-IMG_3192-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9-IMG_3192.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Entering_Fort_McHenry\">Entering Fort McHenry<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Built between 1799 and 1802, this Star Fort defended Baltimore from attacks from the harbor. The star\u2019s points increased visibility for the soldiers and decreased the need for large numbers of watchmen.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Sally_Port_and_Civil_War_Guardhouse\">Sally Port and Civil War Guardhouse<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When you enter the for through the heavy doors of the sally port, straight ahead will be the parade grounds. There, you\u2019ll see the flagpole. I learned that the sally port it the main entrance to the fort and part of the fort\u2019s inner structure.<\/p>\n<p>If you turn to the left as you enter, you can go inside the sally port structure and follow the exhibit down the stairs to the bombproofs. The\u00a0 Apparently, in 1835 a guardhouse was built to house prisoner. In 1857, it was expanded and ultimately, it was used during the Civil War.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-IMG_3195-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-IMG_3195-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-IMG_3195-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-IMG_3195-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10-IMG_3195.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We got this view of the flag when we emerged from the guardhouse.<\/p>\n<h4><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-12352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8565-585x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"585\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8565-585x1024.jpg 585w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8565-172x300.jpg 172w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8565-370x647.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8565.jpg 686w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\"\/><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"Enlisted_Mens_Barracks_E_Building\">Enlisted Men\u2019s Barracks E Building<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>For our next adventure, we took a left to explore the enlisted men\u2019s barracks. It made sense to us to explore clockwise.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12351\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8561-743x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"701\" height=\"966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8561-743x1024.jpg 743w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8561-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8561-370x510.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_8561.jpg 748w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Here you\u2019ll also find the complete history of Fort McHenry. This was pretty interesting because I didn\u2019t know very much about the fort beyond its use in the War of 1812.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-IMG_3198-852x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-IMG_3198-852x1024.jpg 852w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-IMG_3198-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-IMG_3198-370x444.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11-IMG_3198.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve completed the exhibit, you can enter through the third door of this building and see what the barracks for the enlisted soldiers would\u2019ve looked like.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-IMG_3201-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-IMG_3201-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-IMG_3201-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-IMG_3201-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/13-IMG_3201.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Junior_Officers_Quarters_C_Building\">Junior Officer\u2019s Quarters C Building<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is another barracks, known as Enlisted Men\u2019s Barracks D Building, but I didn\u2019t take any pictures inside.\u00a0 One of the groups of people who stayed there was non-commissioned officers. That building now shows the set-up for those men along with an exhibit of the structure of the buildings at the fort.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, as you move up in the ranks, your living conditions improve. Dinner is served in the Junior Officer\u2019s Building.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14-IMG_3202-808x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"701\" height=\"889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14-IMG_3202-808x1024.jpg 808w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14-IMG_3202-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14-IMG_3202-370x469.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/14-IMG_3202.jpg 947w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Artillery Company captains and lieutenants lived here. I love the detail on the floor of this room.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/15-IMG_3204-847x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"699\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/15-IMG_3204-847x1024.jpg 847w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/15-IMG_3204-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/15-IMG_3204-370x447.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/15-IMG_3204.jpg 993w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\"\/><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Commanding_Officers_Quarters_A_Building\">Commanding Officer\u2019s Quarters A Building<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Before you come to the commanding officer\u2019s quarters, you\u2019ll walk past the structure known as Powder Magazine B Building. I didn\u2019t take any pictures here either. I guess you can see where my interests lie from this blog post.<\/p>\n<p>In the commanding officer\u2019s quarters, you\u2019ll come face to face with George Armistead, who was the commander of the fort during the War of 1812. It was his successful defense of Baltimore against the British that inspired Francis Scott Key.<\/p>\n<p>At this time, Baltimore was the third-largest city in the United States, so it was certainly a target. As Armistead prepared for an attack, he asked Mary Pickersgill to make two flag for the fort: a storm flag and a garrison flag measuring 30 by 40 feet so the British would be sure to see it.<\/p>\n<p>In 1814, the British captured Washington, D.C., and burned the White House and the U.S. Capitol. The British then set off for Baltimore. They were unsuccessful on land, so the Royal Navy attacked Fort McHenry. For twenty-five hours, Armistead and his men defended the fort by firing their cannons at the British ships. When the British seemd to stop firing their cannons, Armistead gave the command to raise the garrison flag, the flag that Key saw on the morning of September 15, 1814.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16-IMG_3205-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16-IMG_3205-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16-IMG_3205-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16-IMG_3205-370x493.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/16-IMG_3205.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Armistead kept the actual Star-Spangled Banner. For a while, the flag remained in the family, though his daughter, Georgeanna, sometimes arranged for its display for certain occasions. Finally, Armistead\u2019s grandson, Ebenezer Appleton, donated the flag to the Smithsonian, where you can still view it today.<\/p>\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (U.S. National Park Service).\u201d\u00a0<i>Nps.Gov<\/i>, 2026, https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/fomc\/index.htm. Accessed 5 May 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u200c<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;\">\u201cGeorge Armistead.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><i style=\"font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;\">American Battlefield Trust<\/i><span style=\"font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;\">, 2026, https:\/\/www.battlefields.org\/learn\/biographies\/george-armistead. Accessed 5 May 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"The_Wrap-Up\">The Wrap-Up<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Fort McHenry was a great addition to our East Coast road trip. If you\u2019re into American history, and especially if you\u2019ll be stopping at many historic sites on your trip, Fort McHenry will fit nicely into your itinerary. Though I\u2019d been to D.C. in the past, I\u2019d never been to Baltimore or the fort. I\u2019m glad I got to see the harbor for myself and understand a little better what my history classes taught. I\u2019d recommend this stop to anyone who loves history or wants to share the American story with their family.<\/p>\n<p>Click the links below to check out other stops on this road trip.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/touring-the-white-house-in-washington-d-c\/\">The White House<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/our-day-at-plymouth-rock-and-plimoth-paxtuet-museums\/\">Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Patuxet Museums<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/independence-hall-and-the-liberty-bell\/\">Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/ghost-touring-with-ghosts-and-gravestones-in-boston\/\">Ghost and Gravestones Tour\u2013Boston<\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12365\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12365\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-12365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fort-McHenry-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fort-McHenry-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fort-McHenry-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fort-McHenry-370x555.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.lovelaughterandluggage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fort-McHenry.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12365\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Enjoy this post? Pin it to Pinterest!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u200c<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information. In the summer of 2023, we took a road trip that started at our home in Missouri, went north to Canada, and then made the trek along the East Coast. As the journey neared the final stretch, we found ourselves stopping [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7075377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[123870,180814,117692,179271,235935,107942,96625,114690,98637,100356,99650,97638,97603,123871,215362],"tags":[33061,33314,2538,2291,465,2008,46995,235936],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7075376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","category-back-east","category-baltimore","category-battle-2","category-battlefield","category-families","category-family","category-family-trip","category-history","category-maryland","category-museum","category-road-trip","category-summer","category-trip-report","category-war-of-1812","tag-banner","tag-experiencing","tag-fort","tag-laughter","tag-love","tag-luggage","tag-mchenry","tag-starspangled"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Experiencing the Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry \u2013 Love, Laughter, and Luggage - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075376\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Experiencing the Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry \u2013 Love, Laughter, and Luggage - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information. In the summer of 2023, we took a road trip that started at our home in Missouri, went north to Canada, and then made the trek along the East Coast. 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