American tourism: Fort McHenry
It's been a long while since Brigid's notion of her nationality was merely that of an Outside-Country-Person. She's nearly seven, and in recent years she's become increasingly conscious that she is from the United States of America. The foundational history of America really appeals to her. Some of this may be because of her repeated viewings of the movie musical 1776 with her brother, which they do throughout the year, but always on July 4th.
Some of this, too, lately may be because of a book she got last year, a book about The Star Spangled Banner. This summer we surprised her by telling her that we could actually visit the actual place where the Star Spangled Banner story happened. She was incredulous this could be possible.
Randy had a meeting in Baltimore in July, and it seemed like the right time to visit Fort McHenry.
Brigid, of course, brought her book to guide us around.
More after the jump
Fort McHenry was exactly what we hoped it would be. We learned a lot about the fort itself (the only fort in early America over which a foreign flag had never flown), and of course the Star Spangled Banner (which today is housed in the Smithsonian).
The flag we know now as the Star-Spangled Banner was a garrison flag, one meant to be flown over the fort. This outsized flag was made to Major George Armistead's request for one large enough the British could recognize it at a distance.
When we arrived, it was windy and sputtering rain. This meant that as we walked around the fort and exhibits, a smaller, regular-sized flag was flying.
That didn't put a damper on our tour. It was very typical of the National Park Service, an informative mix of video dramatizations, visual displays, and slice-of-life exhibits.
I did find it curious that the exhibit halls bore this sign, I guess so if you are offended you might not call your member of Congress to cut their funding.
Deep inside the barracks, we found where the Park Service had excavated the remains of the original flag cross brace. A flag as large and heavy as the Star Spangled Banner needed a dedicated support structure.
As we were getting ready to leave, a park ranger dragging a large duffel back entered into the center of the fort and hollered, "I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing that little flag up there. What would you say we fix that?"
He quickly drafted as many of the visitors, young and old, to meet him by the current flag pole as he unfurled the Star-Spangled Banner-sized flag.
Oh yes, now we see how seeing that in the morning after a smoking battle would have inspired the poem.
On one of our next visits to America, I am sure we will have to put The Smithsonian on our itenary so we can see the actual Star Spangled Banner.
Some of this, too, lately may be because of a book she got last year, a book about The Star Spangled Banner. This summer we surprised her by telling her that we could actually visit the actual place where the Star Spangled Banner story happened. She was incredulous this could be possible.
Randy had a meeting in Baltimore in July, and it seemed like the right time to visit Fort McHenry.
Brigid, of course, brought her book to guide us around.
More after the jump
Fort McHenry was exactly what we hoped it would be. We learned a lot about the fort itself (the only fort in early America over which a foreign flag had never flown), and of course the Star Spangled Banner (which today is housed in the Smithsonian).
The flag we know now as the Star-Spangled Banner was a garrison flag, one meant to be flown over the fort. This outsized flag was made to Major George Armistead's request for one large enough the British could recognize it at a distance.
When we arrived, it was windy and sputtering rain. This meant that as we walked around the fort and exhibits, a smaller, regular-sized flag was flying.
That didn't put a damper on our tour. It was very typical of the National Park Service, an informative mix of video dramatizations, visual displays, and slice-of-life exhibits.
I did find it curious that the exhibit halls bore this sign, I guess so if you are offended you might not call your member of Congress to cut their funding.
Deep inside the barracks, we found where the Park Service had excavated the remains of the original flag cross brace. A flag as large and heavy as the Star Spangled Banner needed a dedicated support structure.
As we were getting ready to leave, a park ranger dragging a large duffel back entered into the center of the fort and hollered, "I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing that little flag up there. What would you say we fix that?"
He quickly drafted as many of the visitors, young and old, to meet him by the current flag pole as he unfurled the Star-Spangled Banner-sized flag.
Oh yes, now we see how seeing that in the morning after a smoking battle would have inspired the poem.
On one of our next visits to America, I am sure we will have to put The Smithsonian on our itenary so we can see the actual Star Spangled Banner.
Comments