Few things are held with as much reverence in the United States as the national anthem. The Star-Spangled Banner is performed at nearly every major public event, from sporting games to national ceremonies, carrying deep emotional weight for Americans.
The anthem’s origins trace back to a crucial moment during the War of 1812. In September 1814, as British forces bombarded Fort McHenry outside Baltimore, lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key, along with Colonel John Skinner and Dr. William Beanes, found themselves aboard a British ship, unable to return to shore. As the shelling raged through the night, Key anxiously watched for signs of victory or defeat. At dawn, he saw the American flag — a massive, specially commissioned banner — still flying proudly over the fort.
Moved by the sight, Key quickly scribbled the opening lines of what he called The Defense of Fort M’Henry, beginning with the now-famous words:
“O, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light…”
The poem soon spread through Baltimore and beyond, paired with a popular melody of the day, To Anacreon in Heaven, originally composed for a British gentlemen’s club. Despite the somewhat ironic musical origin, Key’s words and the stirring tune resonated deeply with Americans.
By 1916, President Woodrow Wilson had ordered The Star-Spangled Banner to be played at military and naval events, but it wasn’t until 1931 that Congress officially designated it as the national anthem of the United States.
Notably, the anthem’s third verse contains pointed language toward the British, reflecting the intense emotions of the time. Today, that verse is typically omitted in public performances.
The original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key is preserved at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
For a deeper historical dive, you can explore more at the Smithsonian’s Star-Spangled Banner exhibit page and view original artifacts tied to this pivotal moment in American history.
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