On Sept. 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key peered through clearing smoke to see an enormous flag flying proudly after a 25-hour British bombardment of Baltimore's Fort McHenry. Key was inspired to write a poem, which was later set to music. Even before "The Star-Spangled Banner" became our national anthem, it helped transform the garrison flag with the same name into a major national symbol of patriotism and identity. The flag has had a colorful history, from its origins in a government contract through its sojourn with several generations of a Baltimore family to its eventual donation to the Smithsonian Institution.  Back to top  Birth of the Banner Over the years the Star-Spangled Banner has undergone a series of transformations.  "O Say Can You See?" Francis Scott Key's impressions of the Battle of Baltimore became a poem, a song, and then the national anthem.  Stars and Stripes Trace the evolution of a national symbol.  Views into the Collection Museum objects inspire reflections on the history and meaning of the American flag.