Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

The trail stretches across the Chesapeake Bay region for about 560 miles, connecting places where major War of 1812 events took place. It passes through Maryland and Virginia, linking military sites, forts, and historical locations that visitors can explore by car, bicycle, or foot.

The trail was created to commemorate British military campaigns during the War of 1812, when forces attacked the region and fought several battles. The bombardment at one key fort led to the writing of a famous song that later became the national anthem.

The song's creation is explained at multiple sites along the route through exhibits showing how it came to represent American identity. Visitors can experience how this music shaped the nation's sense of itself during a crucial moment.

Visitors can explore the trail using different methods: driving, taking boat tours, walking sections, or cycling, depending on available time and energy. Passport stamps can be collected at locations throughout the route to track progress along the way.

A key section of the route includes a specific fort where an intense bombardment took place, so powerful that a witness was moved to write verses about it. Those words were later set to music and became one of America's most recognizable songs, still sung at major events today.

Inception: May 8, 2008

Website: https://nps.gov/stsp

GPS coordinates: 39.26310,-76.58000

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49