https://www.nps.gov/stsp News releases from Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. en-us https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/2026-baltimore-blossoms.htm Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:30:00 EST The National Park Service projects peak bloom for cherry blossoms at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine to fall between April 3—5, depending on the weather conditions. The park will celebrate the start of spring by inviting visitors to learn about the many historic sites and local attractions in and around Baltimore. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/2026-baltimore-blossoms.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/tourism-to-fort-mchenry-contributes-$38-6-million-to-local-economy.htm Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:05:00 EST A new National Park Service report shows that 394,000 visitors to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in 2024 spent $27.7 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $38.6 million. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/tourism-to-fort-mchenry-contributes-$38-6-million-to-local-economy.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-defenders-day-and-100-years-as-baltimore-s-hometown-national-park.htm Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:00 EST Join us the weekend of September 12—14 for special Defenders’ Day events commemorating the successful defense of Baltimore against British attack in 1814 and the generations of defenders who served at Fort McHenry and who fought to preserve Fort McHenry as a national park in 1925. Celebrated since 1815, Defenders’ Day is Baltimore’s oldest holiday and this year’s activities will explore the dedication and bravery of Fort McHenry’s from the American Revolution to the 20th century. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-defenders-day-and-100-years-as-baltimore-s-hometown-national-park.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/celebrate-flag-day-at-the-home-of-the-star-spangled-banner.htm Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 EST Learn how you can celebrate Flag Day by exploring the history of the Star-Spangled Banner throughout Baltimore. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/celebrate-flag-day-at-the-home-of-the-star-spangled-banner.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-its-100th-anniversary-as-a-national-park.htm Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:12:00 EST On March 1–2, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine will celebrate its 100th anniversary as a national park with special ranger programs, living history, and the debut of new 100th anniversary museum exhibit “Fort McHenry: The Early Years” which highlights how Fort McHenry became part of the National Park Service and its history from 1925 to 1939. In the late 19th century, as the strategic value of the fort waned, its historical significance as the original “home of the brave” inspired the public to take action. On March 3, 1925, Congress designated Fort McHenry as “a national park and perpetual memorial shrine as the birthplace of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’.” Join us this weekend to explore many generations of service at Fort McHenry from the Early Republic to World War II, and enjoy Baltimore’s hometown national park. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-its-100th-anniversary-as-a-national-park.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/frías-sauter-to-lead-stsp.htm Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:30:00 EST National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Deputy Regional Director Kirsten Talken-Spaulding has selected Marie Frías Sauter as superintendent of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Hampton National Historic Site and the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, all based in Baltimore. She begins her new role early next year. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/frías-sauter-to-lead-stsp.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-baltimore-s-strength-and-stories-with-defenders-day-events.htm Sat, 13 Jul 2024 09:00:00 EST BALTIMORE —Join us the weekend of September 13—15th for special Defenders’ Day events commemorating the successful defense of Baltimore against British attack in 1814 and celebrating the stories, strength, and rich cultural diversity of the city. Celebrated since 1815, Defenders’ Day is Baltimore’s oldest holiday and this year’s activities highlight Baltimore’s history as a port city and its strength and unity during the War of 1812, and invite visitors to explore the arts and culture of modern Baltimore communities. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-baltimore-s-strength-and-stories-with-defenders-day-events.htm https://www.nps.gov/hamp/learn/news/hampton-national-historic-site-seeks-public-input-on-substantial-restoration-project.htm Sat, 15 Jun 2024 07:00:00 EST On June 26, Hampton National Historic Site will host a public meeting to seek community input regarding the forthcoming Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund-supported restoration projects in the park. The meeting will take place in the Orangery at Hampton National Historic Site from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. https://www.nps.gov/hamp/learn/news/hampton-national-historic-site-seeks-public-input-on-substantial-restoration-project.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-baltimore-s-defenders-past-and-present.htm Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:56:00 EST From September 15th—17th the National Park Service and its partners invite visitors to commemorate Defenders’ Day by exploring the history of Baltimore’s diverse community of defenders who came together to defend their city in 1814, and those who continue to support their local and national communities today. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/fort-mchenry-celebrates-baltimore-s-defenders-past-and-present.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/sef-star-spangled-trail-partnership.htm Thu, 27 Apr 2023 10:06:00 EST The National Park Service and Sultana Education Foundation are partnering to provide Maryland Eastern Shore students with educational programming for the 2023-2024 school year. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/sef-star-spangled-trail-partnership.htm https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/2022-12-19-stewart-announcement.htm Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:00:00 EST Superintendent David H. Moore is pleased to announce Robert J. Stewart as the assistant superintendent for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine located in Baltimore, Maryland and Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Maryland. https://www.nps.gov/fomc/learn/news/2022-12-19-stewart-announcement.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-park-tourism-in-maryland-creates-344-3-million-in-economic-benefit.htm Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:36:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 6,675,119 visitors to national parks in Maryland spent $246.6 million in the state in 2021. That spending resulted in 2,940 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $344.3 million. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-park-tourism-in-maryland-creates-344-3-million-in-economic-benefit.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/trail-ambassador-sail-end-of-season.htm Tue, 16 Nov 2021 12:01:00 EST The inaugural year of the Trail Ambassador Sail program--in partnership with Pride of Baltimore, Inc.--reached more than 7,435 in-person visitors through park-ranger led educational programs and deck tours onboard the tall ship PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II and over 11,000 people virtually through live streams and videos. These educational programs taught citizens in eight Maryland port towns about privateers and the African American experience during the War of 1812 https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/trail-ambassador-sail-end-of-season.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/looper-press-release.htm Thu, 30 Sep 2021 11:23:00 EST The National Park Service and Chesapeake Bay Trust are excited to announce the placement of Jimmy Looper as a 2021-2022 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and the Star-Spangled Banner Historic Trail. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/looper-press-release.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/history-sails-into-kent-county.htm Wed, 14 Jul 2021 12:53:00 EST The Star-Spangled Banner trail proudly partnered with the Pride of Baltimore Inc. and Sultana Education Foundation to bring history alive in Chestertown, MD. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/history-sails-into-kent-county.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/intern-ratcliff-phillips.htm Fri, 07 May 2021 07:21:00 EST The National Park Service and the Friends of Fort McHenry are excited to announce the addition of Sydni Ratliff-Phillips as an intern for the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/intern-ratcliff-phillips.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/dave-moore-named-superintendent-of-fort-mchenry-national-monument-historic-shrine-hampton-national-historic-site-star-spangled-banner-national-historic-trail.htm Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:35:00 EST Deputy Regional Director Debbie Conway has named David H. Moore as superintendent of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Hampton National Historic Site and the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, all based in Baltimore, Maryland. He begins his new role on April 25, 2021. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/dave-moore-named-superintendent-of-fort-mchenry-national-monument-historic-shrine-hampton-national-historic-site-star-spangled-banner-national-historic-trail.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/pride-ii-partnership-press-release-11-12-2020.htm Thu, 12 Nov 2020 03:00:00 EST The National Park Service is proud to announce a partnership with the Pride of Baltimore, Inc. that will enhance the experience for visitors at select Chesapeake Bay ports along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/pride-ii-partnership-press-release-11-12-2020.htm https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/trail-advisory-council-appointed.htm Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:12:00 EST The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office announces the appointment of 23 members to the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail Advisory Council. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/news/trail-advisory-council-appointed.htm