The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner, and the flag that inspired it, is over 200 years old!  Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics we now sing as our National Anthem on September 14, 1814, while watching the battle at Fort McHenry. Although Key wrote 4 verses, it is the 1st verse that we always sing.

Listen to what it would have sounded like in 1854.


Then listen to a young girl sing it.





And a rock version.





 The flag that inspired the song is now housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.  It stayed in the Armistead family for 90 years until it was loaned to the Smithsonian in 1907 and later gifted to them.

One of the stars was cut out and given away and it's where abouts are unknown. 

After being moved inside and years of restoration this is where it stays now.

Although there are 15 stars and stripes on the flag there were actually 18 states in 1814. The 15-star, 15-stripe flag was authorized in 1794 and didn't change until 1818.  It is also the only generation of flag with 15 stripes, it then went back to and stayed 13 stripes.

Here's a short video about some of the restoration of the Flag.




To learn even more, and check out the interactive flag, check out the Smithsonian website.