Battle of Baltimore 1814 - Fort McHenry and the Star-Spangled Banner #3360203 (License: Personal Use)

This colorful 19th-century lithograph illustrates the pivotal 1814 Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, showing American defenders at Fort McHenry engaging British troops and warships. In the foreground, U.S. artillery crews operate cannons while officers on horseback direct the defense; smoke billows from gun emplacements, and fallen soldiers lie scattered. The background features a fleet of British ships bombarding the fort, with the American flag defiantly flying-symbolizing the moment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

This image is commonly used in educational resources, museum exhibits, and historical websites covering the War of 1812, especially content about Fort McHenry, the national anthem’s origin, or early U.S. military history; it serves users seeking visual context for pivotal American patriotic moments.