Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812 when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay. A star fort or trace italienne is a Fortification in the style that evolved during the age of Black powder, when cannons came The Inner Harbor is a historic Seaport, Tourist attraction, and iconic Landmark of the City of Baltimore Maryland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. It was during this bombardment of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star-Spangled Banner, the poem that would eventually be turned into the national anthem of the United States, set to the tune of a British song "To Anacreon in Heaven they won the battle. Francis Scott Key ( August 1, 1779 &ndash January 11, 1843) was an American Lawyer, author and amateur " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's The United States of America —commonly referred to as the "
Contents |
History
| Fort McHenry National Monument | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
  |
|
| Location | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 43 acres (0. A Natural Monument is a natural/cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 17 km²) |
| Established | March 3, 1925 |
| Visitors | 731,886 (in 2007) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Named after James McHenry, a Scots-Irish immigrant and surgeon-soldier who became Secretary of War under President Washington, Fort McHenry was built after America won its independence to defend the important Port of Baltimore from future enemy attacks. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation James McHenry ( November 16, 1753 May 3, 1816) was an early American statesman The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, consists of seaport facilities for cargo especially Roll-on/roll-off ships and passengers It was positioned on the Locust Point peninsula which juts into the opening of Baltimore Harbor, and was constructed in the form of a five-pointed star surrounded by a dry moat — a deep, broad trench. Locust Point is a peninsular Neighborhood located in Baltimore Maryland. A star fort or trace italienne is a Fortification in the style that evolved during the age of Black powder, when cannons came A moat is deep broad Trench, usually filled with Water, that surrounds a structure installation or town normally to provide it with a preliminary line of The moat would serve as a shelter from which musketmen might defend the fort from a land attack. In case of such an attack on this first line of defense, each point, or bastion, was fortified, so that the invading army would be caught in a crossfire of cannon and musket fire. A bastion is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a Fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall (termed curtain with the shape
War of 1812
The only attack the fort ever received came during the War of 1812 in the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies In the Battle of Baltimore, one of the turning points in the War of 1812, American forces warded off a British sea invasion of the busy port city of Beginning at dusk on September 13, 1814, British warships continuously bombarded the fort for 25 hours under heavy rain. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The American defenders had 18, 24, and 38 pound (8, 11 and 17 kg) cannons with a range of 1. 5 miles (2. 4 km). The British had a range of 2 miles (3 km), and their rockets had a 1. The Congreve Rocket was a British Military Weapon designed by Sir William Congreve in 1804 75 mile (2. 8 km) range, but they were not very accurate. The British ships were unable to pass Fort McHenry and penetrate Baltimore Harbor because of defenses including a chain, sunken ships, and the American cannon. The Inner Harbor is a historic Seaport, Tourist attraction, and iconic Landmark of the City of Baltimore Maryland. They were, however, able to come close enough to fire rockets and mortars on the fort. Due to the poor accuracy of the British weapons and the limited range of the American guns, little damage was done on either side, but the British ceased their attack on the morning of September 14, 1814, and the naval part of the British invasion of Baltimore had been repulsed. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
The Americans did suffer casualties, amounting to four killed and twenty-four wounded, including one African American soldier and a woman who was cut in half by a bomb as she carried supplies to the troops. At one point during the bombardment a bomb crashed through the fort's powder magazine. Fortunately for the defenders, either the fuse was extinguished by the rain or the bomb was merely a dud.
Star spangled banner
Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer who had come to Baltimore to negotiate the release of a civilian prisoner of war, Dr. Francis Scott Key ( August 1, 1779 &ndash January 11, 1843) was an American Lawyer, author and amateur William Beanes, witnessed the bombardment from a nearby truce ship. An oversized American flag had been sewn by Mary Pickersgill for exactly $405. Flags of the United States The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom alternating Mary Young Pickersgill (1776-1857 is the flagmaker of the famous banner hoisted over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 90[1] in anticipation of the British attack on the fort. When Key saw the flag emerge intact in the dawn of September 14, he was so moved that he began that morning to compose the poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry" which would later be renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and become America's national anthem. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's
Port defense
Fort McHenry served as the primary defense for the port of Baltimore until about 1848, when Fort Carroll was constructed further down the Patapsco River. Not to be confused with the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Washington The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Outer Harbor Bridge or Fort Carroll is a 34 acre (14000 m² artificial island and abandoned fort in the middle of the Patapsco River, just south of Baltimore Maryland. The Patapsco is a River in central Maryland which flows into the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore Maryland.
Prison
During the American Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a military prison, confining both Confederate soldiers as well as a large number of Maryland political figures who were suspected of being Confederate sympathizers. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Among the imprisoned were Baltimore Mayor George William Brown, the city council, and the police commissioner. George William Brown was the mayor of Baltimore Maryland from 1860 to 1861. Ironically, Francis Scott Key's grandson was one of these political detainees. In an earlier coincidence, James McHenry's son had served in the defense of the fort during the Battle of Baltimore. In the Battle of Baltimore, one of the turning points in the War of 1812, American forces warded off a British sea invasion of the busy port city of
Hospital
During World War I, an additional hundred-odd buildings were built on the land surrounding the fort in order to convert the entire facility into an enormous hospital for the treatment of troops returning from the European conflict. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Virtually none of these buildings remain, while the original fort has been preserved and restored to essentially its condition during the War of 1812.
Coast guard base
During World War II Fort McHenry served as a Coast Guard base, helping to defend the port of Baltimore. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
National monument
The fort was made a national park in 1925; on August 11, 1939, it was redesignated a "National Monument and Historic Shrine," the only such doubly designated place in the United States. A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A National Monument in the United States is a Protected area that is similar to a National Park except that the President of the United States It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. It has become national tradition that when a new flag is designed it first flies over Fort McHenry. The first official 49 and 50 star American flags were flown over the fort and are still located on the premises.
The Fort has become a vital center of recreation for the Baltimore locals as well as a prominent tourist destination. Thousands of visitors come each year to see the "Birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner. "
Every September the City of Baltimore commemorates Defenders Day in honor of the Battle of Baltimore. Defenders Day was formerly a Maryland state Holiday celebrated on September 12 each year commemorating the successful defense of the city of Baltimore It is the biggest celebration of the year at the Fort, accompanied by a weekend of programs, events, and fireworks.
In 2005 the Living History volunteer unit, the Fort McHenry Guard was awarded the George B. Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of The Fort McHenry Guard is a dynamic volunteer unit that serves Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Hartzog award for serving the National Park Service as the best volunteer unit. Among the members of the unit is Martin O'Malley, the former mayor of Baltimore, and current Governor of Maryland, who was made the unit's honorary colonel in 2003. Martin Joseph O'Malley (born January 18 1963) is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st
The flag that flew over Fort McHenry, the Star Spangled Banner Flag, is currently undergoing restoration at the National Museum of American History. The Star Spangled Banner Flag or the Great Garrison Flag is the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the Naval The National Museum of American History collects preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social political cultural scientific and military history It is in extremely fragile condition, but is expected to be put back on display in 2008. The restoration process can be viewed by the public.
See also
- List of forts
- Fort McHenry Tunnel - opened November 23, 1985; passes underneath the Fort
- Fort Henry
External links
- Official NPS website: Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
- Fort McHenry Guard
- British Attack on Ft. McHenry Launched from Bermuda
- Fort McHenry is part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
- Weather & Maps - Unearthed Outdoors
- Baltimore, Maryland, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Fort McHenry is at coordinates Coordinates:
References
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic