Current:Home > FinanceThe story behind the flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner"-LoTradeCoin
The story behind the flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner"
View Date:2024-12-23 15:39:26
In the murky waters of Baltimore's harbor, between the Chesapeake Bay and a decommissioned fort, a red, white and blue buoy marks the spot where Francis Scott Key observed the British bombarding Fort McHenry for a 24-hour period. With the War of 1812 raging, the British had already marched on Washington and set fire to the White House when they set their sights — and ammunition — on the last defense of the United States' industrial port.
Key was aboard a ship in the harbor and squinted through smoke to see who had won, as the sun began to break. A large American flag was raised. Key saw it and wrote a poem that became the national anthem.
The actual flag Key saw — the Star-Spangled Banner — is now housed in a climate-controlled, light-protected chamber at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
The museum receives about four million visitors a year, said military history curator Jennifer Jones, who is part of the team tasked with preserving the flag.
"And I think this is probably one of the things people say, 'Oh, we have to see this,'" she said.
"It embodies our values and everybody's values are different," she said. "And I think that people bring their own ideals to this object, not just this flag, but any American flag."
After the War of 1812, the flag and the words it inspired became a sensation. Key's poem was quickly set to a popular — and ironically British — tune and was soon rebranded as "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"Those words were inspirational to a nation fighting to become independent and to create a more perfect union," said Jones.
In 1931, it finally became America's official national anthem.
Today, the flag stands as an enduring symbol of democracy.
"If you look at how fragile the flag is ... that's really synonymous with our democracy," said Jones. "You know, we have to be participants. We have to be thinking about it. We have to protect it."
- In:
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- Star-Spangled Banner
CBS News correspondent
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Martha Stewart playfully pushes Drew Barrymore away in touchy interview
- In some Black communities, the line between barbershop and therapist's office blurs
- Hospital to pay $300K to resolve drug recordkeeping allegations
- Groom shot in the head by masked gunman during backyard St. Louis wedding
- Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym After 3 Days
- Darrell Christian, former AP managing editor and sports editor, dies at 75
- Despite vows of safety from OnlyFans, predators are exploiting kids on the platform
- Gun policy debate now includes retail tracking codes in California
- How many dog breeds are there? A guide to groups recognized in the US
- Biden to give extended interview to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday
Ranking
- Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
- Keith Roaring Kitty Gill buys $245 million stake in Chewy
- AI is learning from what you said on Reddit, Stack Overflow or Facebook. Are you OK with that?
- USA TODAY Editor-in-Chief Terence Samuel leaves Gannett after one year
- Bohannan requests a recount in Iowa’s close congressional race as GOP wins control of House
- Dangerously high heat builds in California and the south-central United States
- Horoscopes Today, July 1, 2024
- Woman dies from being pushed into San Francisco-area commuter train
Recommendation
-
As Northeast wildfires keep igniting, is there a drought-buster in sight?
-
Trump seeks to overturn criminal conviction, citing Supreme Court immunity decision
-
Stripper, adult establishments sue Florida over new age restriction
-
Attorneys face deadline to wrap Jan. 6 prosecutions. That could slide if Trump wins
-
College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
-
North Korea test-launches 2 ballistic missiles, South Korea says
-
COVID trend reaches high level across western U.S. in latest CDC data
-
Powerball winning numbers for July 1 drawing: Jackpot rises to $138 million