Fort McHenry...

After having so much fun touring around DC we decided a couple weekends ago to spend our Sunday seeing what Baltimore had to offer. Of course the first thought when planning a trip there is to hit the aquarium - but woah - it's so expensive! We'd be in close to $100 just in admission tickets and well that's just not happening. You know what doesn't cost $100? The National Park at Fort McHenry! Thanks again to our annual park pass. :) 

I honestly had no idea what Fort McHenry was all about but that's kind of what makes days like that fun. Luckily right upon arrival they were starting a movie in the visitor's center so we quickly headed in and watched. The video taught us that Fort McHenry was the birthplace of our National Anthem. As we battled the British throughout the night, Francis Scott Key watched from a boat (where he was working to negotiate the release of a hostage) and as the sun rose everyone, including Key, looked to see which flag would be flying over the fort...and there it was...the stars and stripes flying high and victorious! A very well done video that ended with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and as the song came to an end the screen came up and revealed windows and the American flag flying above the fort in the background. Wow. 

From there we went and explored the fort and as we got closer to the flag we all commented that, honestly, it seemed a bit small...that was about to change. Seems our timing was also right for witnessing the changing of the flags where we learned that the flag that had been flying was what they call a "storm flag" and that yes, it was on the small side. We also learned that Fort McHenry is one of 4 places that has a presidential order to fly the flag 24/7 (Points of entry into the US, the White House, and Iwo Jima round out the list). The flag they were going to put up in place of the smaller storm flag was a 15 star flag - the same flag design that would have flown in 1814 when Key penned the Star Spangled Banner. What was cool about this process was they involved the visitors. Adam got to volunteer and was in charge of making sure the storm flag was brought down safely and never touched the ground. Every one else got to help unfold the 15 star flag and raise it. It was an awesome experience we won't soon forget. 

It's really just an awesome place to visit with an amazing view of the harbor and so much history that you can almost feel it. We are so fortunate to live around so much of America's history and we'll look forward to our next adventure. 

Where to next? #FindYourPark