Remembering the Bombs Bursting in Air

Family field trips are always good justifications for leaving our normal routine. Our most recent museum trip was to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It was here that dozens of British naval ships pummeled the fort for over a day with gun and cannon fire.  Francis Scott Key had been detained on his ship by the British out in the harbor, watching the explosive battle, and as the history goes, he strained in the early morning hours to see if the flag was still flying.  The British had already taken Washington D.C., and Baltimore was there next area of focus.

Before last weekend I knew so little about the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry.  I left feeling so inspired by the power of united community--the people of Baltimore beat the British through tenacious work and faith--and I felt more moved by our national anthem.

 My boys loved the munitions most.  Typical.  Cannons.  Turrets.  Bombs.  Mortarshells.  The film shown in the visitor center was fantastically realistic, so we toured the fort with striking images in our minds.

The fort is star-shaped, and despite the cold, we traipsed all over each level and down into the underground bombsafes.

It is interesting to me that Ft. McHenry is called a national monument and "shrine."  Hmmm.  I'm still trying to figure out what that means exactly.