A new boat tour is now offered at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Operated by the Baltimore Water Taxi, the 45-minute Fort McHenry Boat Tour: A Star-Spangled Experience runs on the weekends departing from the Fort McHenry Pier in the morning.
Fort McHenry has stood guard at Baltimore’s harbor for more than 200 years. Francis Scott Key wrote the The Star-Spangled Banner after witnessing a naval attack on the fort by British forces during the War of 1812, and the song became the United States’ national anthem in 1931.
The park now spans 43 acres and rangers lead group tours in summer and winter. Visitors can still see the large cannons that fended off attack.