Once, pirates sailed for new trophies from there. Now you can sit quietly on the grass and have a picnic. Today, Fort McHenry has become a national monument and holiday destination for locals and tourists.

The fort was built in 1798 to protect Baltimore Island from attacks. This is another pentagon in the United States. It is surrounded by a huge dry moat, from which the infantry could easily protect Baltimore from attack by enemies.

This place remembers not only the whistle of bullets and exploding shells but also the clang of shackles and the groans of prisoners. Once, in the middle of the 19th century, there was a prison. Fort McHenry was the place where political prisoners were serving their sentences. The local police commissioner, member of the Maryland general assembly, local newspaper editor, and many others were serving sentences there. The cells where prisoners spent long days, months, and years are still preserved. You can watch them during the tour.

During World War II, Fort was not involved in combat battles but played a very important role. Military personnel was trained there. You can also feel like an American soldier of the 20th century: details of the time are preserved in the fort.

Today, Fort McHenry and its surroundings are an incredibly picturesque place: wild waves, calm blue sky, green grass. Fort McHenry looks very beautiful from above.

Despite the purpose for which it was built, today Fort McHenry perfectly copes with the function of a city recreation park. And its purpose is to remind you of the events of the past. This is done by numerous guides during excursions. They will tell you what archeological finds scientists have found there, what is the history of the star banner, where Orpheus comes from.