BaltimoreStories

Museum History: From Past to Present
By Sara LaHart
For BaltimoreStories.com

When the Flag House became a museum in 1927, the first curators lived in the upper stories of Mary Pickersgill's 19th century home and ran the bottom floor as a museum. The Flag House expanded in 1953, with an addition of a small museum building used for a gift shop, meeting area, and a small exhibit room on the War of 1812. The land next to the Flag House was saved as a garden area and now features a 17-by-28-footstone map of the United States.

Believe it or not, this is the same size as the original flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. The flag was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's creation of the poem, “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which is now known as our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Flag House was the home of Mary Pickersgill, the woman who sewed the enormous flag that was later named The Star-Spangled Banner. While touring the original home of Mary Pickersgill, you will see several items that are the original belongings of Mrs. Pickersgill.

The Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum offers several educational programs for school children and adults. There are outreach programs as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs. Family-oriented programs include scholarly symposia, toddler programs, and hearth cooking demonstrations.

The Flag House is “a unique place to hold a party or event,” Christy Dennis, the director of Public Relations & Marketing at the Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum said. With the new museum expansion, receptions, weddings, parties, meetings and other special events make the Star-Spangled Banner museum a unique, convenient and fun place to hold an event.

Thousands of visitors come each year to see and learn the history of the Star-Spangled Banner flag, Mary Pickersgill, the War of 1812 and other Baltimore history. The Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum is located at 844 East Pratt Street, just two blocks east of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65 and older) and $4 for children under 18, students with ID and military personnel with ID. For hours, directions and other information you may visit the Flag House Web site.

Related Stories

Have a patriotic party: The Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum is a great place to hold your next event.

Making History: The creation of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag: According to Flag House documents, the creation of the Star-Spangled Banner began when Mary Young Pickersgill was approached by Major George Armistead and was asked to create a flag to fly over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

Passing on the Knowledge: The Girl Scout program: The Girl Scout program at the Flag House is one of the most popular programs offered.

The Flag House: Creating New History: Children and adults can spend time learning about history without going far: the Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum has what they need.