Star-Spangled Banner Flag House
Flag House Copyright Ken Stanek Photography Credit VISIT BALTIMORE
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore is not only a renowned museum but a historical attraction in itself, offering educational value to all visiting student groups.
The Flag House itself was built in 1793 and occupied by one Mary Pickersgill, the woman who sewed the everlastingly famous "Star-Spangled Banner" which flew proudly over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Mrs. Pickersgill's flag was Francis Scott Key's inspiration for the national anthem as he watched the flag flying resolutely, victoriously all through the battle. The Pickersgill Flag House and the museum which was built alongside it have been preserved to welcome guests of all ages to learn about life during the early 19th century, about the American flag's origins, and much more.
Next door to the Flag House is the museum proper, housing over 12,000 square feet of educational displays, galleries, and plenty of artifacts to peruse. You can find exhibits on the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore in particular, watch introductory films on a number of historical topics and marvel at the 30 by 42-foot window covered in a replica of the original Star-Spangled Banner. The permanent exhibit "Preserv'd Us A Nation" showcases the brave men who defended Baltimore from British invasion during the War of 1812 and features a fragment of the original flag, a drum played during the attack, and more. The newest exhibit, “Family of Flagmakers: The Women Who Created the Star-Spangled Banner,” offers a deeper look into the female role during wartime in early America and Mary Pickersgill's history as the seamstress who inspired the national anthem as we know it today.
Flag House Copyright Ken Stanek Photography Credit VISIT BALTIMORE
