Tomorrow is Maryland's Big Day, the celebration of the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore. The Star Spangled Banner, which Francis Scott Key originally titled Defence of Fort McHenry, was born at dawn the next morning.
Fireworks over Fort McHenry, tall ships, cannon fire, a million people. Events have been ongoing all week, but the biggest crowds are expected on Saturday the 13th and for the flag raising in the morning on Sunday the 14th.
Earlier this week more than 6,000 students from all over Maryland created a living flag. A living flag was also part of the centennial celebrations in 1914.
Fort McHenry is worth a visit at any time. It had a long, interesting history before and after the War of 1812 — as a prison during the Civil War, a 3,000-bed hospital in World War I, a Coast Guard training base during World War II.
Event list
The Saturday night concert which will be broadcast live on PBS
Fort McHenry
In the library collection: Fort McHenry by Michael Burgan (digital, use your library card number, search for mchenry)
The other verses
Details of the battles of North Point and Baltimore