Star-Spangled Banner Loaned to USNM

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Summary

The Star-Spangled Banner is loaned to the United States National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution for display by Eben Appleton, grandson of Major George Armistead, the defender of Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland. The flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" which in 1931 became the national anthem. Appleton made the loan of the flag to a gift to the museum in 1912 "with the firm and settled intention of having it remain there forever...."

Subject

  • Key, Francis Scott 1779-1843
  • Armistead, George 1780-1818
  • Appleton, Eben
  • Star-Spangled Banner (Flag)
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH)
  • United States National Museum

Category

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 305, Accession 54876.

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

July 9, 1907

Topic

  • Accessions
  • Fort McHenry (Baltimore, Md.)
  • Baltimore, Battle of (Maryland : 1814)
  • Gifts
  • Flags
  • Baltimore, Battle of, 1814

Full Record

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