Life changing Encounter I’ve wanted to come here for years. As a first generation American, the son of immigrants, it’s so important to visit a place so powerful so defining as this fort. It makes the national anthem come to life. Every family in the USA needs to visit

Was here on a sunny but windy coolish day. Tons of new to me information presented in a realistic and open manner. Visitors Center had a short movie and brief history of the fort. Also had a souvenir shop and clean restrooms. No food service, free parking and waterfront views. Fort itself was interesting and there was a volunteer docent there to answer questions. Used the senior pass to enter and got national park book stamped.

The Fort is not very large and because of its structure, is barely a blip on the horizon. The earthwork hide most of the inner structure from view, but its small size speaks volumes of the brave men and women who were there during that faithful day and night. The separate visitor center starts your tour with a short historical review, complete with flashing red lights to emphasize the fires in the show and finishes with the movie screen lifting to reveal the fort as the Spar Spangled Banner is sung. The Fort of to day included surroundings earth works, the star wall, cannon ( not the original), six (6), buildings you can enter with historic and archeological presentations and the most important aspect, the flag pole. At least when we went, there were no guides in the fort, but each building has displays to read and artifacts to view, that very effectively tell the tale of its history. The real impact is in the comparison of its size and what it accomplished. This is really one of America’s pivotal David versus Goliath moments, when the might of the American government has been questioned and the “aristocrats” in Washington DC are running with their valuables as the city burns, but little Baltimore, with its tiny fort, in true American style, says NO. We all want our children to be happy, and healthy and not to know the pains of war, but maybe it is this defiance that makes America, America. The grit that pushes us forward toward innovation and protects us when the governments cannot. This is a rare “teaching moment” for a complacent society who wants others to solve our problems. Don’t let is go by or this just becomes a nice little fort, with a big flag.

I went during the last week of March so the cherry blossoms were in bloom which were beautiful. They had a video in the visitor center and then I went on a 30 minute tour which was included in the $15 ticket pric (I would check the website to see the tour times throughout the day. Also, to hike the grounds is free but to get to the actual fort area is what costs $15 (see attached picture for what is free). I would recommend paying to see inside of the fort, as you can enter the barracks and the magazine where they stored their gunpowder. Each place you can go into also has exhibits so you are able to see the transformation of the fort from the Battle of Baltimore, to a camp for POW during the Civil War, to a base for WW2. There are also picnic tables if you want to pack food! Overall, a great trip! Also, if you wanted to see the Francis Scott Key Bridge there is a perfect view of it and what remains.

I was looking forward to going here and it was so much better than I expected! The visitors center is very nice and they have interactive guide books for the kids that were fun. The kids also get a badge at the end of their visit. The 4 min video in the visitor center is well done too. The Fort itself has been preserved so well and it was both fun and educational for my boys to get to go into the many spaces. We ended up spending twice as long there as we thought we would. I would say this is a must see in Baltimore!

What amazing history! The grounds are beautiful and the fort is well maintained. The NPS rangers were friendly and the visitor center is comfortable and has a great museum and gift shop. By chance, we were scheduled to visit the day after the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed. We were able to see the Dali still stuck in the wreckage on the Patapsco River.

If you're an American you must visit Ft McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Flag raising ceremony every mourning at 10 AM. Park Rangers give a talk and are available for questions. Be sure to watch film at Visitor's Center. A pleasant surprise at the end that will fill your heart with pride.

We finished most interior displays which were good. As we headed out to tour the earthworks, we had a deluge that drenched us before we could even get our ponchos on. Some of our group finished that part, following the rain and before the next downpour hit. Much of the activity centered around the flags, as it should, history of it, some personal opinions of the NPS ranger, more explanation of the retiring of the flag and then we watched some young people participate in that, which seemed appropriate. The film in the visitor center was impressive and we enjoyed the ending reveal.

We went to Fort McHenry since one of my children learned about the War of 1812. It was good to walk around the area and we were able to watch a video on the history and how important it was for the Americans to defend and hold Fort McHenry from Great Britain. It makes you very proud to be an American.

This historical site is so well done. The visitors center should be your first stop. The movie there is a great introduction to the site and tells the story of the Star Spangled Banner well. The day we were there, there were volunteers explaining how a cannon was fired and costumed players explaining life during the time. The path around the Fort is a nice, easy walk.