Baltimore City Courthouse

Historical marker location:

110 North Calvert Street, Downtown Baltimore, Maryland

( Marker is at the intersection of North Calvert Street and Lafayette Street, on the left when traveling north on North Calvert Street.)

Maryland was the birthplace of the national anthem: The national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner," was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812. Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor and was inspired by the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn.