NPR: The Star-Spangled Battle of Baltimore

September 14 is the 200th anniversary of the writing of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Listen to this NPR interview with historian Anthony Pitch commemorating the 190th anniversary. He tells about the background of the battle, the retaining of Francis Scott Key on a British ship outside Baltimore, and the bombardment of Fort Henry. As he watched the shells explode, he wrote the words which later became our national anthem. Not only that, this battle in 1814 became a turning point in the War of 1812.

courtesy of Knovation