Out past Locust Point, the neighborhood/industrial area that runs south of the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill, sits one of the most historic sights and pivotal turning points in the history of the United States: Fort McHenry.
For the masses who did not pay attention in their history classes or forgot a lot after the APUSH exam, Fort McHenry’s claim to everlasting fame was the Battle of Baltimore.
On the clearest of days you can find an oversized version of the stars and stripes flying high above the fort, a five-point star monument with gun emplacements located along its various levels of defenses and adjacent points along the coastline. This 15 star flag replicates the original “Star Spangled Banner” commissioned by Major George Armistead, who wanted to make sure the British had no trouble seeing the American flag. At sundown the fort flies the current 50 stars.
While there have been some renovations to the buildings to counteract age and tear, as well as an overhaul of the guns during the Civil War, much of Fort McHenry’s original fortifications, earthwork and building layout remain the same today. The insides of the fort’s main buildings, from the soldier’s sleeping rooms to Armistead’s quarters, feature informative displays and short videos that recount the battle and supplement the historical background provided by the visitors center.
Getting out to Fort McHenry used to involve an independent motor vehicle or navigating the MTA buses with several transfers, but this little weekend escapade just got a lot easier thanks to a direct line from the Inner Harbor on the Charm City
Circulator’s Banner Route. If you feel a little yearning for some boost to your patriotism, recount the heroism of the defenders of Fort McHenry and get out to this historic site.
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