The U.S. national anthem and the flag that inspired it are legacies of the War of 1812. British forces gathered to attack Baltimore in September 1814. After a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry, they failed to penetrate Baltimore’s defenses and withdrew. Francis Scott Key, witnessing the bombardment and seeing a huge 30x42-foot American flag over the garrison, was moved to write four stanzas of lyrics to a popular tune of the day.



Both the flag and anthem have become known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Learn about the history of each though the links below. The Great Garrison Flag The flag represented America’s pride and resilience in the War of 1812--an enduring symbol of the nation’s identity and ideals. The National Anthem The sight of the flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become America's national anthem.