Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD
During the American Revolution, a small star fort known as Fort Whetstone was built at the edge of the peninsula that led to the opening of the Baltimore harbor. The fort was never attacked during this Revolution, but military experts realized the importance of coastal defenses around the US’s third largest city. So, in 1798 construction began to expand this fort with brick and stone masonry to create a more permanent structure.
It became Fort McHenry, named after George Washington’s Secretary of War, James McHenry. On September 13, 1814, the British navy sent ships to remove the defenders from their defenses. For twenty-five hours, bombs and rockets rained down on Fort McHenry. But the following day, when the smoke and fog cleared, the defenders were still standing, forcing the British to withdraw. A lawyer named Francis Scott Key witnessed the attack and was so inspired that he wrote a poem called “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which was later put to music and renamed… “THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.”
Next, a reminder that peace and justice should be for all…..
9 thoughts on “10 Of The Most Iconic Monuments In The US”
Loved the tour. Thank you!
I enjoyed reading this article and learning these things about America. Thank you very much
I have been to eight of these grand places !!! We are a country full of great history
My now deceased husband was a USMC officer in the early 1970s. He had the honor of leading the sunset parades at Ft. McHenry during the summer months. Picture brought back fond memories of those nights! Thank you~
Thank you for this most memorable tour. As I was going through the monuments, it dawned on me that my Dad planned many of our family vacations at the beautiful, historic sites, (Statue of Liberty, Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, The Liberty Bell, and Colonial Williamsburg. I appreciate my Father’s excellent choices for some of our vacations.
This year I hopefully will visit Mt. Rushmore, SD.
Joanne
I enjoyed looking at these wonderful places. I have been to 7 and can not remember if I was at another. I think that 7 out of the 12 is not too bad.
Your choices are spot on I fully agree that these sites should be seen by all Americans
Why don’t they ever include the third tallest memorial in the National Park Service? Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is taller than the Statue of Liberty. Only monument dedicated to international peace.
Mount Rushmore has been on my bucket list for many years. I would also like to visit Williams Burg, VA. Thank you for this informative tour.