Francis Scott Key Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis Scott Key Memorial |
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Francis Scott Key Park
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| Location | 34th and M Street, NW Washington, D.C. |
| Area | 0.77 acres |
| Operated by | National Park Service, Rock Creek Park |
The Francis Scott Key Memorial is a special park in Washington, D.C.. It's found in the historic Georgetown area. This park is a tribute to Francis Scott Key, who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner". It's a small park, about three-quarters of an acre. The National Park Service takes care of it. The park is right next to the famous Francis Scott Key Bridge. It also borders the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.
Park History
When Washington, D.C., was first created, the area where the park now stands was part of Georgetown. Georgetown was a town in Montgomery County, Maryland. The land for the park was bought on May 29, 1930. This was done by the National Capital Park Commission. They used a special law called the Capper-Crampton Act.
The park was officially dedicated to Francis Scott Key. He is famous for writing the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner". The Francis Scott Key Foundation gave the park to the National Park Service in 1993.
What You Can See
At the center of the park is a plaza made of brownstone bricks. It has a limestone structure called a pergola. This pergola is covered with beautiful wisteria plants.
The main feature in the park is a bronze statue. It's a bust of Francis Scott Key. A sculptor named Betty Mailhouse Dunston created it. You can also find signs around the park. These signs tell you more about Francis Scott Key and the park.
A special flag flies in the park. It's a copy of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry. This flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. It was this flag that inspired Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
