Fort McHenry National Monument

now this, is a neat place!
knowing they didn’t have bulldozers and excavators when this place was built, if/​when you visit, think about that as you wonder around. mass amounts of earth moved by hand. and it just had to suck to load those huge cannons. one of those places you visit and your grateful you weren’t a participant.

Baltimore is full of U.S. history, much of which you can find in and around the city. Fort McHenry should be on everyone’s list of places to visit. The staff dresses in period costumes to give visitors an idea of what Revolution times were like. There’s a great amount of natural scenery to take in while getting a great lesson about the fort and it’s role in American history.

I love jogging here from my apartment. This park on a beautiful day will give you the feels. It’s so relaxing to be here that it makes you forget that you are still in Baltimore. They have a visitor center that I haven’t checked out. They also a picnic area that would be perfect for the spring time. Around the whole fort, there is a trail to run along. I have not been here during the spring but they have cherry blossoms that would be beautiful to see. Definitely a place to check out while in Baltimore.

What I loved most was that this museum didn’t shy away from the conflicting messages of the «Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave», all while enslaving other humans. Their interactive exhibits cover facts in a digestible way, but also speak about the more subjective aspects, including some of America’s ugly past. It’s not meant to make soapbox statements, it just is what it is, which is inclusive of all Americans, not just the ones we remember from history books.
The grounds are so beautiful, as well. The fort itself is amazingly well-​kept. Finally, the guards/​staff/​policemen are extremely nice and helpful!

‘Murica!
I visited the fort on flag day, which is THE best day to visit. Why? Because Francis Scott key was inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner while looking at flag during a battle in the war of 1812 that was going on right at the fort.
During my visit, we saw the regular film and toured the grounds but also got to participate in an event with where they presented a replica of the original flag and gave all kinds of tidbits and had us fold and unfold the flag between 20 of us. It was really fun and an awesome way to learn about our country’s history. The fort and the grounds are really cool as well as the bay views.
Anyone visiting Baltimore needs to make this a #1 stop.

Fort McHenry is an excellent place to visit in Baltimore. Packed with history and interesting stories, you will never get bored here. Coming from Europe, I wanted to spend my year abroad in America learning as much as possible about the country and its people. Fort McHenry was a great place to do just this.
The main part of the fort’s history is from the War of 1812, when the British tried to reclaim control of the territory which declared independence in 1776. For a long time, the British seemed to be succeeding in the war, infamously reaching Washington DC and setting fire to the major buildings in that city. However, tactical errors from the British side gave the Americans in Baltimore time to prepare and reinforce before the Battle for Baltimore. On one famous night, September 13^th, 1814, the British bombarded Fort McHenry for 25 hours. The city was black, the only illumination coming from the «rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air». However, save a small number of casualties, the Americans kept control of the Fort, and saw the next morning «that our flag was still there».
This night inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem of the United States. It really is a tremendous story, and captured powerfully in the exhibits at Fort McHenry.
A major honour for me was getting the chance to be part of the nightly lowering of the massive flag at the fort. As it was brought down in the windy conditions, we had to make sure the material never hit the ground. It was fun, but also moving.
If you’re in the fantastic city of Baltimore, Fort McHenry is a must-​visit site.

Bang! Crack, crack! Then an ear shattering clang could be heard across the fort! The smell of gunpowder burning one’s nose it’s so thick!
These are just a few thoughts that come to mind when visiting Ft McHenry! It is such an impressive & moving national monument. As a huge fan of military history, and our Nation’s history as a whole, I just love this place. Personally, I am moved when visiting this site, this fort, this impenetrable acropolis of American might!
This is where it all went down! We would not be a country if it were not for the brave men who stood tall and answered the call that night early September, 1814. Yes, it was the war of 1812, but this battle took place two years later & was the catalyst for our National Anthem.
«O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-​spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?»
Thank you Francis Scott Key, and more importantly, thank you to those who refused to succumb that night & thank you to those who gave all they had.
This is a «Must See» for anyone with half a brain!

Nice place! It’s full of history and great views of the water. The trail that goes around the perimeter is a nice paved mile loop next to the water. Great place to get photos too!

We love National Parks and since we live nearby we consider this a personal favorite.
Why the low review? It’s not the fort, the musicians, nor the re-​enactors. It’s the Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center was renovated prior to the bicentennial celebration of 2014. The special effects, audio enrichment, screens, and other interpretative panels worked flawlessly and til the story in a modern and catchy way. However, the screens are now dysfunctional, the audio doesn’t work, and the movie no longer has the awe inspiring finale (the screen used to lower and reveal the fort and Star Spangled flag flying over the fort through a HUGE window).
It is sad to see such an awesome visitors center slipping away so quickly.

I happen to love military history so this is a very cool place for me. I’ve been twice. The first time I got to volunteer (along with at least ten other people) to put up a really large flag. This time, I got to help a ranger reset the flag which had gotten tangled up on the pole. The fort is a classic Vauban style fort, just on the small side. Perfectly placed to block anyone wanting to go up river to Baltimore. There are plenty of panels to give you a sense of the fort’s place in history which did not totally stop in 1814.
And to boot, it is only 15 minutes from BWI so it made a perfect thing to do on my last afternoon in DC.

Humbling stop on the Water Taxi. This is part of the NPS so be prepared for a fee to go through the historic sights. There are folks wearing period garb and offer a wonderful perspective of life in the day — this is an incredible city and Fort McHenry was instrumental in making Baltimore what it is today.

Fort McHenry is located in a beautiful park, perfect for a picnic or a stroll, with a view of the changing of the flag flying above the star-​shaped fort.
The 10 minute movie in the visitor’s center is worthwhile, as it details how Baltimore was able to successfully defend its harbor from a 25-​hour attack by the more powerful British navy. It was a much-​needed victory, as DC was defeated by the British just days before.

I am just going to keep on to the massive pile of praise already in these reviews. My family spent a few hours here on Wednesday, it was hot and humid! Regardless, all of the volunteers, wearing. Clothing, we’re kind and helpful. They answered 1 million questions from my very curious child, and the demonstrations were incredibly informative. We had a great time, it was perfect for my family full of history buffs.

Awesome place to visit and get a history lesson and a wonderful view on a lazy summer afternoon! Bring your blanket and have a picnic in the grass and venture through the fort to see all of the cannons and storage rooms. Make sure you have your walking shoes on to see what historic Baltimore has to offer.

This place has so much historical significance to our country I can’t see how you can pass this up if you are in the area. The adult fee is $ 7 and includes a small museum inside the visitor center along with a 10 minute movie. Then you exit to walk to the fort. In the fort there are several buildings open to view how life was back during the War of 1812 along with the Civil War and also WW I and II.
Try to attend either the morning or afternoon change of flag ceremony. The afternoon is held at 5:15 and includes visitors in assisting the park ranger with changing out the flag that flys over the fort. The fort has beautiful views of the waterway.
I think this is a must see event.

I finally made it here in my last couple weeks as a Baltimore resident and, boy, do I wish I would have gone earlier! First of all, even if you’re not a history buff or don’t feel like paying to see the exhibits and the fort itself, you can enter the park for free and it’s a GORGEOUS and large park overlooking the harbor. Perfect for a picnic, run, or just a few hours in the sun.
If you do choose to go in, admission is only $ 7 and there are plenty of interesting exhibits and artifacts on the fort’s role during the War of 1812 as well as it’s fascinating role during future wars including WWII (as a hospital)! Walking «o’er the ramparts» with my friends made all of us more in awe and more emotional than we anticipated. The views were beautiful and the area is steeped with history and American pride.
I would highly recommend taking the time to visit both the park and the exhibits if you’re spending some time in Baltimore. It’s great for both those who love history or just those who love some time outside.

Ft McHenry is one of the ‘must see’ National Parks due to the significance of the song it helped inspire. That alone gets a 5 star. The staff there are also very helpful and top-​notch. There is a lot to learn here, like all of our parks, so I’m glad I didn’t delay this visit any longer than I had.

Absolute must see if you’re in Baltimore, especially if you love American history! Fort McHenry defended Baltimore against the British during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. It is also what inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.
I would recommend coming in the morning so you can see the changing of the flags. Every morning (weather permitting of course), the smaller storm flag which is flown overnight is swapped out for the large oversized flag that the fort is so famous for. These are replica flags made to the same specs as what was flown here in the 1800s. What remains of the original oversized flag can still be seen at the National Museum of American History in Washington DC.
Not much of the original structures still stands today, because of all the wars this place has gone through since the War of 1812 ended. Displays are set up in individual buildings so that you can read how that area of the fort was used. Many are even set up to show what it would’ve looked like.
For a measly 7 bucks, it’s worth coming here just for the awesome views of Chesapeake Bay even if you’re not into history or historical places.

We arrived just 45 minutes before closing so they just let us in for free and said to catch as much as we could. What a deal!
We got to see the lowering of the flag and the raising of a new one, and learn a bit about our National Anthem. Most folks, myself included, are not aware of the place in history that Baltimore played. We just associate it with The Wire and move on to the next town.
There’s much more to it than that, and Fort McHenry is a cool place to start learning a bit. The strange fact you never consider that this Fort makes very evident? The weapons storage facilities from 200+ years ago are a LOT of wall, and very little inside. Gunpowder just sitting in the open, apparently, isn’t a good thing…
‘Murica.

I’m so glad I stopped here. I’m a big fan of American history and Fort McHenry is a wonderful set up. I knew this was the place where the Star Spangled Banner was inspired but actually watching the videos, seeing the views, touching the walls, walking in the footsteps of our forefathers, was really very cool. See where bombs were stored, where soldiers slept. Learn about the goings on of everyday during colonial times and enjoy the beauty.
Before heading to the fort, take the time to visit the small museum in the visitors center. There are unique artifacts, lots of history and the short video is the perfect way to get into the mood and fully understand just what happened on this property throughout our history. Take the time to watch it, promise it’s worth it.
This is the kind of place that makes you so proud to be an American. A pride that’s often lost when you stop saying the pledge of allegiance or you never hear the Star Spangled Banner. I’m just so glad I visited. Wear comfy shoes, bring along some water, and take your time. I even walked down to the waterfront, sat on a bench and took in the beauty while thinking about the battle that took place there. The only negative thing was that many of the buildings were locked up so I couldn’t go into them. Oh, and there is one that has a video playing in it. Sit and watch it. You’ll learn all about the Battle of Baltimore. It was a great presentation and really helped me to understand more of the battle.