Fort McHenry

Description:

• The flag that flies at Fort McHenry is 30X42 feet, big enough to see "by the dawn's early light." Its 15 stars and stripes still fly as boldly as they did at the Battle of Baltimore, when U.S. soldiers reclaimed American independence from the British in the War of 1812. The star-shaped fort looks much as it did then, and its buildings, repaired in the days following the attack, still stand. The Star-Spangled Banner is central to this fort, which is a national monument. A talk about the flag is offered every day at noon; Fort McHenry Guardsmen (living-history volunteers) are on duty noon to 4pm on summer weekends. Visitors are invited to take part in the daily changing of the flag (9:30am or 4:30pm, 7:30pm June-Aug) -- in fact, because the flag is so big, around 20 people are needed to keep it off the ground. The large flag flies only during daylight hours, but a smaller flag flies at night.

  Exhibits recall Baltimore under siege during the War of 1812, the fort's Civil War service, and its use as an army hospital during World War I. Allow about 90 minutes for a visit. (Construction on a new visitor center is slated to begin in 2010.) Fort McHenry sits on a point in the harbor from which visitors can see the Inner Harbor, the Patapsco River, and down to the Chesapeake Bay. Visits to the park outside the fort are free, and picnicking is allowed.

  The Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, held in mid-September, recalls the British attack on the fort. On select Sundays from 6 to 8pm, military bands perform with a color guard, drill teams, and the Fort McHenry Guard dressed in 19th-century uniforms, a ceremony that began in 1803. Admission to this ceremony is free; call or visit the website for a schedule.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010