Business took me to Baltimore this week and so I took the chance to visit Ft McHenry while there. I grew up not real far from here in VA and although I had been to Baltimore several times I had never visited this historic place. It was quite amazing and I highly recommend it. By Presidential order the flag of this country flys here 24/7 as a tribute to Francis Scott Key and the writing of our national anthem. The flag that Key viewed from his vessel some 4 miles from Ft McHenry was commissioned by the fort commander, Major George Armistead, and measured 42 feet by 30 feet. He said he wanted a flag large enough "that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance." The flag in this picture is a standard sized modern flag but the National Park Service has a full sized replica of the original "Star-Spangled Banner" (now hanging in the Smithsonian's Museum of American History) that it flys periodically, weather permitting.

This photo was taken from the 4th Bastion looking back over the parade ground to the flag and main gate.