Friends of Fort McHenry

https://www.parksconservancy.org/gateways-article/what-is-story-iconic-nps-ranger-flat-hat

Flat hats off to our amazing Park Rangers

232 years ago, President George Washington signed the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, officially designating the 15-star, 15-stripe Star-Spangled Banner as the flag of the United States! This was our nation's second official flag, featuring two additional stars and stripes to represent the new states of Vermont and Kentucky, which joined the Union in 1791 and 1792.

This banner proudly flew as our official flag until 1818, when it was updated to showcase twenty stars for even more states, while two stripes were removed to honor the thirteen original colonies.

To this day, a 15-star, 15-stripe flag still flies over Fort McHenry as it did during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. Join us for one of our flag programs and discover how this flag inspired an anthem!

📸 NPS/ Tim Ervin
Image: Visitors and rangers gather inside the historic star fort as one sized flag is exchanged for another.

National Park Service updated its 2026 free-entry calendar. Some patriotic holidays have been added, while MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth are removed. Please update your calendars:)

President’s Day (February 16, 2026)
Memorial Day (May 25, 2026)
Flag Day (June 14, 2026)
Independence Day weekend (July 3–5, 2026)
110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25, 2026)
Constitution Day (Sept. 17, 2026)
Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27, 2026)
Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2026)

For more detailed information on all the fee changes to National Parks, please visit https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/department-interior-announces-modernized-more-affordable-national-park-access

Temporary Fort closure. Please be aware.

UPDATE: PARK REOPENED FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS

As of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, the park has reopened for normal operations.

UPDATE

Out of an abundance of caution, the park is temporarily closed as local fire officials investigate a breached pipe located on site. The area has been secured, and all staff and visitors are safe inside the visitor center.

The fire department is coordinating with the gas company to assess the situation. The park will provide updates as more information becomes available.

PARK ALERT

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is temporary closed this morning due to utility work near the main gate. Please check our website and social media for updates. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to welcome visitors back to the park soon.

PARK ALERT

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine will be closed for the rest of the day. Updates will be provided as they are available. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to see you soon.

UPDATE

In the early afternoon of Friday, November 21, evidence of buried historic ordnance was discovered by National Park Service preservationists.

Following standard operating procedures, the park was immediately cleared and closed to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. Local authorities and NPS personnel were contacted to address the situation.

Once the situation has been fully addressed and responders deem the area safe, the park will reopen.

Please check the park website and social media for updates.

Come one, come all!

We are so back. And we can’t wait to welcome you back! Whether you’re traveling by car, bus, boat, or foot, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is open to everyone. As you’re racing to come visit, please keep in mind that the speed limit inside the park is actually only 15 miles per hour! Join us this weekend for a flag change or ranger program 🇺🇸 Check our website for the full schedule. 🎥 NPS Video description: Clip 1: NPS ranger securing his flat hat. Clip 2: Camera pans across grounds and statue of Major Armistead. Clip 4: Visitors assist with raising the storm flag. Clips 5-7: In quick succession the closed gates are shown followed by a ranger turning the lock and lifting the bars that hold the gate in place. Clip 8: Two rangers pull open the gates to Fort McHenry NMHS.

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Friends of Fort McHenry will be at Union Craft Brewing from 4PM to 7PM this evening!

Stop on by our table and see a visible representation of how outgunned Fort McHenry was at the Battle of Baltimore against the British. Learn why we need modern day defenders too!

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W 41st Street, #420, Baltimore, MD 21211

Take advantage of the cooler temps and the even cooler admission fee -- FREE!!! -- and visit Fort McHenry on Saturday, September 27th for National Public Lands Day.

Join us on September 27, 2025, for a fee free day to celebrate "Our Home Outdoors" and celebrate for the public lands we share!

Our public lands are more than just places to visit—they are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. From the trails we hike to the parks where we gather with family and friends, these spaces are our collective backyard, our shared front porch, our natural playground.

So, gather your family and friends to explore Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, or as we like to call it "Baltimore's hometown National Park," for free this Saturday!

🎨 National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
Image: NPLD 2025 illustration. The scene is arranged left to right (West Coast to East Coast) and top to bottom (sky to sea), with each element representing a real species, landscape, or place found across America’s public lands.

Orioles vs. Yankees at 7:05PM

Happy Saturday! Get to Union Craft Brewing early and warm up before the game.

Round up your tab and support Union, the O's AND Friends of Fort McHenry. It's a home run!

1700 W 41st St #420, Baltimore, MD 21211

Baltimore vs. Yankees at 7:05PM

Begin your weekend at Union Craft Brewing! Support Union, the O's AND Friends of Fort McHenry by rounding up your tab the entire month of September.

1700 W 41st St #420, Baltimore, MD 21211

Orioles vs. Yankees at 7:15PM

Hightail it to Union Craft Brewing and round up your tab while enjoying the game!

1700 W 41st St #420, Baltimore, MD 21211

Support Union, the O's AND Friends of Fort McHenry. It’s a home run!