Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

During the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, a lawyer named Francis Scott Key was watching the U.S. flag wave over Fort McHenry. He was inspired to write a poem called the 'Star-Spangled Banner.'

The only attack the fort ever received came during the War of 1812 in the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore.

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.

During the American Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a military prison.

During World War II Fort McHenry served as a Coast Guard base, helping to defend the port of Baltimore.

Location

2400 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland
USA

Getting There

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine can be reached by public transportation using the MTA LocalLink 73 bus or Charm City Circulator Banner route. Both routes stop at the Fort McHenry Visitor Center, which is a short walk from the fort.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Maryland that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.