Middletown

Historical marker location:

200 West Main Street, Middletown, Maryland

( Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street (Alternate U.S. 40) and Elm Street, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street.)

Union Left Flank. Gettysburg Campaign.

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.