Fort McHenry: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Foulds, H Eliot; Davison, Mark

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is comprised of approximately 43 acres of land historically known as Whetstone Point located along the Locust Point peninsula in South Baltimore. The well-maintained lawn, specimen trees, historic buildings, and statuary stands in sharp contrast with the character of the heavy industrial development that surrounds the park. The northern boundary of the park is constrained by neighboring parcels, no longer extending to the northern riverbank as it once did. This boundary, marked by a black iron picket fence, is shared with parcels managed by other governmental entities, including the U.S. Naval Reserve, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Fort McHenry, constructed between 1794 and 1802 to guard the entrance to Baltimore harbor, is recognized as one of the finest surviving examples of coastal fortifications built during the First American System. The site derives preeminent national significance from its pivotal role in the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812, withstanding a 25-hour British naval bombardment on September 13-14, 1814. From its establishment until 1912, Fort McHenry remained an active military post. Between 1917 and 1923 it served as a receiving hospital for the convalescence of World War I veterans. In 1925 Congress designated Fort McHenry as a national park and "perpetual national memorial shrine" under the administration of the War Department. During World War II, the Fort served as a U.S. Coast Guard training facility. Francis Scott Key, detained off-shore by the British during the 1814 attack on the Fort, witnessed the bombardment and was moved to write the poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem eventually became the National Anthem in 1931. For its association with Key, whose inspired poem has endured as a profound work of patriotic literature and music from the time of its public release immediately after the battle. The Fort underwent several episodes of construction, both before and after the War of1812. Although altered in many respects from its appearance at the time of the 1814 bombardment, the essential configuration of the Star Fort has survived to the present. It is an expression of the evolution and advances in defense engineering from the late 18th to late 19th centuries. Resources that further contribute to Fort McHenry's national significance include the various statues and commemorative markers placed at the Fort during later periods of memorialization. Among these, the Statue of Orpheus is recognized as a significant artistic work by the renowned neo-classical sculptor, Charles Niehaus. Authorized by Congress in 1914, the statue was dedicated in 1922 to Francis Scott Key and the defenders of Baltimore who participated in the Battle of North Point and the defense of Fort McHenry in 1814. Other important works, placed during the centennial commemoration of the bombardment by various War of 1812 organizations, include the Armistead Monument, the American Privateers’ Monument and the British Bomb Monuments. The period of significance for Fort McHenry extends from 1794, the year of construction, to 1945, when the site was used as an encampment during World War II, with significant dates of 1814, 1914, and 1922. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine consists of a single cultural landscape and retains integrity. Cultural and natural features and characteristics are well preserved.

Fort McHenry: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

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