Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

During the War of 1812, British forces sailed to Baltimore, Maryland, intent on attacking the city. But Baltimore was defended by Fort McHenry — a star-shaped fort perfectly situated on the Baltimore ...

Texas High School Tiger band performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. The tune was ...

George Armistead to make a flag for Fort McHenry. This flag, which measured 30 feet by 42 feet, was the original Star-Spangled Banner that inspired the lines of Francis Scott Key’s renowned poem ...

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was composed by Francis Scott Key, a Maryland attorney, slaveholder and poet, who was inspired by watching soldiers raise the flag over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry ...

Re “Remove ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as national anthem ... the British sent a downpour of shells and rockets on Fort McHenry for 25 hours in September 1814. Francis Scott Key was in ...

Fort McHenry, in Baltimore ... of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," the poem that would eventually be set to the tune of the The Anacreontic ...