Which National Park Service site preserves the fort whose defense inspired the U.S. national anthem?

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine preserves the fort whose defense inspired the U.S. national anthem.

During the War of 1812, British forces attacked Baltimore Harbor on September 13–14, 1814. Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment from a ship and saw the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry at dawn. The sight inspired the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” later set to music as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The fort is a star-shaped coastal defense in Baltimore, Maryland. Its position protected the harbor approach, and its successful defense helped prevent the British capture of Baltimore.

Fort McHenry is sometimes confused with Fort Sumter, another famous National Park Service fort. Fort Sumter is associated with the opening battle of the American Civil War, while Fort McHenry is associated with the anthem’s origin. The site became a national monument and historic shrine in 1925.