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Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum facts for kids
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Star-Spangled Banner Flag House
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Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in 2011
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| Location | 844 East Pratt Street at Albemarle Street, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Built | 1793 |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000320 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | December 16, 1969 |
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House is a special museum in Baltimore, Maryland. It used to be called the Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum. This historic house is located in the Jonestown/Old Town area, right next to Little Italy.
The house was built in 1793. It became the home of Mary Pickersgill in 1806. This is where she sewed the famous "Star Spangled Banner" in 1813. This huge flag flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The British Royal Navy attacked Baltimore in 1814 during the Battle of Baltimore. The flag flying proudly showed that America had not given up.
Today, the museum shows furniture and old items from the time period when the flag was made. You can also see things that belonged to the Pickersgill family. A modern museum building was added behind Mary Pickersgill's home. This part of the museum has exhibits about the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore. It has a theater, a gift shop, and galleries.
One amazing feature is a huge window. It is 30 feet by 42 feet tall. This window is the exact same color, size, and design as the original "Star-Spangled Banner" flag. That flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. Mary Pickersgill and her family made it. Outside the museum, there is a map of the United States on the ground. Each state is made from a piece of stone from that state.
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The Flag House After Mary Pickersgill
After Mary Pickersgill lived there, the house was used for different things. It was a post office, a bank, and even a shipping place. In 1908, the Milio family lived there.
In 1927, the City of Baltimore bought the house. A group called the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association was formed. This group wanted to preserve the house. In 1928, the house was officially recognized as a historic shrine. This means it was a very important place in history.
Saving and Improving the Flag House
Efforts to Restore a National Treasure
More work to restore and expand the Flag House began in 1952. Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., who was the Mayor of Baltimore, was very interested in this project. He had grown up nearby in "Little Italy". The goal was to make the house look just like it did when Mary Pickersgill lived there. They wanted to add furniture and items from that time.
Money for this project came from emergency funds and donations. The Daughters of the American Revolution, a patriotic group, gave a lot of money. The Flag House Association helped organize all these efforts.
Protecting the Historic Area
There was an idea in 1946 to move the Flag House to Fort McHenry. However, this plan did not happen. Later, there was a debate about building a new highway, Interstate 95. Some people worried that the highway would change the historic look of the neighborhoods around the Flag House. These neighborhoods included Federal Hill and Fells Point. People wanted to protect the old-fashioned feel of the area.
In 1969, the house was named a National Historic Landmark. This is a special title given by the U. S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. It means the Flag House is a very important historical site for the whole country.
Patriotic Moments at the Flag House
The Flag House has often been a place for people to show their love for their country.
Celebrating Flag Day
In June 1961, a special ceremony took place at the Flag House. It was for the dedication of the stone map outside the museum. Representative Gordon L. McDonough spoke to a crowd of 375 people. He talked about the importance of "good old-fashioned American patriotism." He also suggested that Flag Day should become a national holiday.
In May 1980, the Flag House held a press conference. They started a national campaign to encourage all Americans to "Pause for the Pledge" on Flag Day. This idea became a law in June 1985. President Ronald Reagan signed Public Law 99–54. This law recognized the pause for the pledge of allegiance as part of National Flag Day activities.