The "Star-Spangled Banner" was flying above Fort McHenry at Baltimore when the British
attacked on September 13, 1814. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer from Washington had gone aboard a
British ship seeking the release of a friend held prisoner. He was detained throughout the
night. The sight of the American flag still flying over the fortress the next morning inspired
Key to write what, in 1931, became our National Anthem.
The original Fort McHenry flag is part of
the collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. This design, born with the second flag
act on January 13, 1794, is our only official flag ever to have more than thirteen stripes. To see the
current status of The Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project, go to Smithsonian Institution now (Click on "Back" button to return to this page.).
