Visitors to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine should begin at the Visitor Center. A short orientation film is shown two times per hour: ten minutes after the hour and twenty minutes till the hour throughout the day. Restrooms, exhibits and a gift shop are also located in the building. Plan to spend about one hour touring the fort - all self-guided. An entire visit usually requires two hours.
Special Events include: twilight tattoo ceremonies; Living American Flag; National Flag Day; a concert series; Civil War Weekend; and Defenders' Day - The Star-Spangled Banner Weekend. The summer months include daily ranger talks and weekend living history in the fort. The Fort McHenry Guard performs drill, musket and artillery demonstrations.
Kids can also complete a Junior Park Ranger program and earn a badge while they learn about Ft. McHenry.
Ft. McHenry Archival Library
The collections include archival copies of original letters, maps, and other primary source materials relating to people, events, and the material culture of the parks historic themes from the Revolutionary War to the American Civil War.
Smithsonian's Star Spangled Banner Site
Can't visit Ft. McHenry? Visit the National Museum of American History's virtual tour page to learn more about the war, the flag, and the song made famous by Maryland's little fort on the Chesapeake Bay.
