National Museum of American HistoryThe National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center is a historical museum in Washington, D.C. It collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. Among the items on display is the original Star-Spangled Banner.
The Star-Spangled Banner"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Battle of Baltimore1814 battle during the War of 1812BelligerentsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCommanders and leadersSamuel SmithJohn StrickerGeorge ArmisteadRobert Ross†Alexander CochraneArthur BrookeStrengthNorth Point: 3,200 militia and infantryHampstead Hill10,000 regulars 2,000–5,000 infantry and militia, 100+ gunsFort McHenry: 1,000 infantry and militia20 artillery pieces Additional defense: 8,000 militia150 artillery piecesTotal:22,000–25,000Land:5,000 infantry, marines, and sailorsSea:19 warships Detachment of Chasseurs Britanniques at least a companyCasualties and lossesNorth Point & Hampstead Hill:24 killed,139 wounded, 50 capturedFort McHenry:4 killed,24 woundedTotal:28 killed, 163 wounded,50 capturedNorth Point & Hampstead Hill:39–46 killed, 251–295 wounded1 missingFort McHenry:1 woundedTotal:39–46 killed,252–296 wounded1 missingThe Battle of Baltimore took place between British and American forces on September 12–14, 1814, during the War of 1812.
Flag of the United StatesThe national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white starting with red, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars alternate with rows of five stars.
Fort McHenryFort McHenry is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort on Locust Point, now a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British Royal Navy from the Chesapeake Bay on September 13–14, 1814. The fort was built in 1798 and was used continuously by U.S. armed forces through World War I and by the United States Coast Guard in World War II.
BaltimoreLargest city in Maryland, United StatesIndependent city in Maryland, United StatesBaltimore, also known as Baltimore City, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is the 30th-most populous U.S. city with a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 569,997 in 2025, while the Baltimore metropolitan area at 2.86 million residents is the 22nd-largest metropolitan area in the nation.
United States CongressBicameral legislature of the United StatesThe United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a bicameral legislature, including a lower body, the U.S. House of Representatives, and an upper body, the U.S. Senate. They both meet in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.Members of Congress are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a governor's appointment.
Francis Scott KeyFrancis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 – January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which was set to a popular British tune and eventually became the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner". In 1814 Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812.
War of 18121812–1815 conflict in North AmericaBelligerentsUnited StatesCherokeeChickasawChoctawLower CreekTuscarora United KingdomTecumseh's confederacyRed SticksMenomineeSix Nations of the Grand RiverWest Florida (1813–1814)Commanders and leadersJames MadisonJohn RodgersStephen DecaturAndrew JacksonJacob BrownWilliam Henry HarrisonWilliam HullWinfield ScottThe Earl of LiverpoolPhineas RiallAlexander CochraneGeorge PrevostIsaac Brock †Robert Ross †Edward Pakenham †Samuel Gibbs (DOW)Tecumseh †Roundhead #Strength 7,000 troops (at war's start) 35,800 troops (at war's end) 3,049 Rangers458,463 militia 12 frigates 14 other vessels515 privateer ships 5,200 troops (at war's start) 48,160 troops (at war's end)4,000 active sedentary Canadian Militia in Upper Canada & 2,000 in Lower Canada (active/being trained as of 1812-13); c. 45,000 listed in muster rolls, pay lists and other documents over the course of the war 11 ships of the line 34 frigates 52 other vessels9 Provincial Marine ships (at war's start)10,000–15,000 Native American allies500 Spanish garrison troops (Pensacola)Casualties and losses2,200 killed in action5,200 died of diseaseUp to 15,000 deaths from all causes4,505 wounded20,000 captured8 frigates captured or burned1,400 merchant ships captured278 privateers captured4,000 slaves escaped or freed2,700 died in combat10,000 died from all causes15,500 captured6 frigates captured or burnt56 small warships lost~1,344 merchant ships captured (373 recaptured)10,000 Indigenous warriors and civilians dead from all causes14 Spanish killed and 6 woundedThe War of 1812 was a conflict initiated by the United States against the United Kingdom and its allies fought mainly in North America and at sea during the wider Napoleonic Wars.
John Stafford SmithJohn Stafford Smith (bapt. 30 March 1750 – 21 September 1836) was an English composer, church organist, and early musicologist. He was one of the first serious collectors of manuscripts of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and a friend of his son Johann Christian Bach.
Flag ActsThe Flag Acts are three laws that sought to define the design of the flag of the United States. All the submitted suggestions were remarkably short, the shortest being a sentence of 31 words, and the longest being a title and two sentences of 117 words. The brevity of the Acts leave a lot of ambiguity since neither the size or shape of the flag nor the exact colors or the size or placement of the design elements is specified.
The Anacreontic Song"The Anacreontic Song", also known by its incipit "To Anacreon in Heaven", was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an 18th-century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London. Composed by John Stafford Smith, the tune was later used by several writers as a setting for their patriotic lyrics. These included two songs by Francis Scott Key, most famously his poem "Defence of Fort McHenry".*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.