The Star Spangled Banner: US national anthem introduced 200 years ago in Baltimore

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, over the land of the free and the home of the brave! It has been waving now for 200 years.

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, over the land of the free and the home of the brave! It has been waving now for 200 years.

The Star-Spangled Banner celebrates its bicentenary this month. The lyrics of the national anthem of the United States were written by Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, after he witnessed the British defeat at the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814.

There have been some notable interpretations since then: Jimi Hendrix’s feedback rendition at Woodstock in 1969, Marvin Gaye’s soul adaptation at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, and Aretha Franklin’s gospel version at the 2006 Super Bowl. The city of Baltimore commemorates the anthem’s 200th anniversary with a packed schedule of live music, air shows, and fireworks throughout the autumn (starspangled200.com).

Baltimore, the largest city in the East Coast state of Maryland, is spread out around a colorful inner harbor.

The city centre and Penn Station lie to the north, extending into the historic district of Mount Vernon, an outcrop of grand 18th- and 19th-century buildings.

To the south east is Fort McHenry, the star-shaped defence work from where the US army successfully defended the city from British attack in 1814. The tourist office is at 401 Light Street (baltimore.org; open daily 9am-6pm April to September, 10am-4pm October to March).

The Star-Spangled Banner Pass ($18) offers discounted entrance to a range of historic monuments including Fort McHenry and The Maryland Historical Society at 201 Monument Stree โ€“ which houses the US anthem’s original manuscript.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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