The flag that inspired the national anthem was actually a smaller storm flag

Wars & Conflicts · Published 9 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While the massive 30-by-42-foot garrison flag is the most famous, it wasn't the one that flew during the Battle of Baltimore. Instead, a more durable, smaller storm flag witnessed the 25-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry, sparking the words that would eventually become America's national anthem.

The creation of the iconic flag began in the summer of 1813, driven by Major George Armistead's desire for a massive ensign that would be visible to the British from a distance. He commissioned 37-year-old professional flagmaker Mary Young Pickersgill to sew a 30-by-42-foot garrison flag featuring 15 stars and 15 stripes. The project was a massive undertaking, involving 300 yards of English wool bunting and cotton stars, completed by Pickersgill, her daughter, two nieces, and an indentured servant.

During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814, the massive garrison flag was not actually raised until the morning of September 14. The flag that survived the 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry was actually a smaller, 17-by-25-foot storm flag, designed to be more durable in inclement weather. It was the sight of the American flag flying through the smoke of the battle that inspired lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem "Defense of Fort M'Henry," set to the tune of the popular English song "To Anacreon in Heaven."

The flag's journey from the battlefield to the Smithsonian is a complex family history. Following the death of Major Armistead in 1818, his wife, Louisa Hughes Armistead, inherited the flag. She reportedly sewed a red upside-down 'V'—possibly an 'A' for Armistead—onto the fabric. After being passed down to her daughter, Georgiana Armistead Appleton, the flag was eventually lent to the Smithsonian Institution in 1907. Today, it is preserved in a specialized chamber at the National Museum of American History, though it now measures only 30-by-34 feet due to years of wear and souvenir cuttings.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The morning the American flag survived a British siege
• The American flag was never designed by one person and evolved through many hands.
• Did the first American flag actually signal a desperate plea for peace with Britain?
• How Renaissance Geometry and a Massive Flag Created the American National Anthem
• The national anthem wasn't official for over a century after its creation
• The USS Roosevelt is a naval vessel honoring both a president and a first lady.
• How Turkey built a national fleet of stealthy anti-submarine warships
• From test pilot to top brass: the rise of an Indian air chief
• Turkey's Atmaca missile is reshaping naval power with precision and long-range strike capabilities
• The treasure fleet that was missed but still won a war
• Why this Swedish naval gun remains a global standard for modern warships
• The silent architect of India's military synergy: meet the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff

More in Napoleonic Wars · More in Wars & Conflicts · Latest · A–Z · All topics