John A. Belt Building

Historical marker location:

227 East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland

( Marker is at the intersection of East Diamond Avenue and South Summit Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Diamond Avenue.)

Built: 1903.

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.