The fort is best known for its role in the Battle of Baltimore Harbor.
Fort McHenry History
The fort is located on the tip of land at the mouth of Baltimore Harbor, and it was used during the Civil War as a prison and as a military post. The Francis Scott Key Monument, an ornate sculpture of Orpheus playing the lyre, was dedicated to the fort's soldiers. The Museum also contains over 16,000 artifacts and more than 70,000 documents, including documents and rare books. The Museum is one of the largest in the United States, and it is home to some of the largest collections of American history.
Fort McHenry National Monument
Visitors can visit Fort McHenry National Monument, founded in 1798 and is now a National Monument and Historic Shrine. It has many exhibits and is wheelchair accessible. You can also enjoy a visit to the gift shop and watch a 10-minute orientation film about the area's history. You can even see the cells where Francis Scott Key wrote his famous poem, which became the "Star-Spangled Banner" in 1931.
The fort was constructed in a pentagon style and surrounded by a dry moat. A large area was centered around the fort, and the defensive pentagon was a protective shield against land attacks. For the duration of the Civil War, over 10,000 Confederate prisoners were held at the fort. After the war, the fort served as a U.S. Coast Guard training center.
The British attacked Fort McHenry
While Fort McHenry was built for the military, it also served as a training ground for the artillery. The British attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor on September 13, 1814. During the war, the fort became the home of the famous Rodman gun. It was used during the Civil War and the Revolutionary War and the American forces won the battle. While the British had burned Washington, the fort was able to protect the port of Baltimore.
In addition to the British fleet, the fort was manned by militia. The garrison was commanded by a major named George Armistead. The garrison was surrounded by a large chain to prevent British troops from reaching the fort. The British forces attempted to capture the fort during the night bombardment, but the fort was protected. Its stronghold held the city until the American fleet reached the harbor.
