Terra Rubra, Federal architecture birth house in Keymar, United States.
Terra Rubra is a Federal-style house in Keymar, Carroll County, Maryland, set on a large rural property. It has a symmetrical front facade, tall windows, and decorative details that are typical of that architectural style.
The property was built in 1770 by Francis Key for his son John Ross Key, and was later rebuilt after fire damage in the 1800s. That reconstruction shaped the house as it stands today.
The house connects to Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner, through historical markers placed in the surrounding area. The property reflects the importance of this family in the region's past.
The house sits on Keysville Bruceville Road near Francis Scott Key Highway in Carroll County, and is best reached by car along local rural roads. There are no major services nearby, so it helps to plan your visit in advance.
Terra Rubra was the birthplace of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics that became The Star-Spangled Banner. Few visitors realize he wrote those words aboard a ship off Baltimore during the War of 1812, far from this quiet rural property where he grew up.
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