Upon entering this exhibition, visitors are immersed in the Battle of Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous lyrics. The 200-year-old, 30-by-34-foot flag is displayed in a special environmentally-controlled chamber. An interactive table with a tactile image allows visitors to investigate key details of the flag and how it was made. The exhibition explores the flag as a family keepsake in the 19th century, the Smithsonian Institution’s efforts to preserve the artifact since 1907, and how Americans have used the Star-Spangled Banner—both the flag and the song—to express diverse ideas of patriotism and national identity.
Please note: Photography is not permitted in this exhibition. Learn why on our blog and download photos from Flickr.
Exhibition Website
The war, the flag, the song, and the legacy: the history of the Star-Spangled Banner is told in four parts. Explore an interactive flag in incredible detail and answer quiz questions correctly to get a special reward. Visit the website.
Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are immersed in the Battle of Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous lyrics.
As visitors enter the exhibition, they encounter the scene for a dramatic historic event: the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, when this young nation survived an assault by the British.
The first stanza of the national anthem is projected prominently on the wall above the Star-Spangled Banner.
A special enclosure, with a 35-foot floor-to-ceiling glass wall, protects the fragile wool and cotton flag while providing maximum visibility to visitors.
A tactile section of the banner.