In 1814 Fort McHenry in Baltimore was a regular army garrison. That year Britain, at war with France since 1793, sailed up the Chesapeake Bay with 5,000 soldiers and a plan to retaliate American attacks in Canada. British troops fought a battle at Bladensburg, Maryland, and went on from there to seize control and burn a number of government and military buildings in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Capitol.    

When British ships headed further up the Chesapeake to assert power, Fort McHenry and the citizens of Baltimore were ready. For 25 hours, the British bombarded the fort from ships moored in the Patapsco River. The soldiers at Fort McHenry stood their ground, fired back, and ultimately forced the British to retreat.  At the end of the siege, they hoisted the large flag that would later become known as the “Star Spangled Banner” and immortalized in the lyrics of our national anthem. To celebrate Independence Day and our hard-fought freedoms, National Parks Traveler’s Lynn Riddick takes on us a visit to Fort McHenry National Monument and Shrine to learn more about its history and the story behind the poem that was inspired by the Battle of Baltimore.