Birthplace of Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem) Fort McHenry + The Hidden Spot Where Completed

The Star-Spangled Banner, America's national anthem, was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812. Key was inspired by seeing the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a British bombardment. The flag was made by Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flagmaker, and was 30 feet tall and 42 feet wide with 15 stripes and 15 stars. Key wrote the poem at the Indian Queen Hotel in Baltimore, where he was staying while on a mission to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes. The fort's visitor center now preserves the history of this pivotal moment in American history.