Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Welcome to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. I am your guide, a professor of early American military history, and I am delighted to lead you through this profoundly significant site. …

As we advance from the visitor center, we encounter the imposing exterior of the star fort itself. Observe these extensive brick walkways that circumnavigate the structure. …

We have now arrived at the guardhouse, a structure that underscores the strict, unwavering discipline required to maintain order within a military garrison. In any fortification, the guardhouse serves a dual purpose: it is both…

We now step into the enlisted men's barracks, the sleeping quarters for the soldiers stationed at Fort McHenry. This elongated brick building served as the primary living space for the garrison. …

We are now venturing into the most heavily fortified and structurally critical areas of Fort McHenry: the subterranean defensive works. Take note of the various passageways that descend into the earth, some of which split off…

Emerging into the open air, we arrive at the fort's offensive perimeter. This area is defined by its formidable artillery. …

We are now standing upon one of the star fort's five prominent bastions. I want you to look out across the water, precisely in that direction. …

We have reached the emotional and historical epicenter of Fort McHenry: the historic flagpole. Take a moment to look up at the towering mast. …

As our detailed analytical tour of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine comes to a close, we find ourselves standing outside the primary walls, looking out over the seawall toward the expansive waters of the…