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Fragments of the Star Spangled Banner

National Museum of American History
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Object Details

Associated Name
Appleton, Eben
Key, Francis Scott
Pickersgill, Mary
Description
Physical Description
Three wool bunting fragments with raveled edges.
Specific History
These three fragments were cut from the flag that flew from Fort McHenry in 1814. This was the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. In 1880 the fragments were presented to William Carter by Eben Appleton, the grandson of the commander of Fort McHenry. Carter, a local historian, carried the Star Spangled Banner in a parade during Baltimore’s Sesquicentennial Celebration on 13 October 1880. As the flag was being packed for shipment to New York, Appleton cut three pieces and gave them to Carter. Carter’s daughter gave them to the Maryland Historical Society who donated them to the Smithsonian.
Credit Line
Maryland Historical Society
1814
associated date
1880 - 1889
ID Number
AF.35573
catalog number
35573
accession number
93535
Object Name
fragments, flag
Other Terms
fragments, flag; Sheets of Paper, Set of; Documents
Physical Description
wool (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 190 mm x 70 mm; 7 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in
place made
United States: Maryland, Baltimore
used in
United States: Maryland, Baltimore
See more items in
Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military
Military
ThinkFinity
Exhibition
Price of Freedom
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
subject
Flags
related event
War of 1812
Expansion and Reform
Record ID
nmah_444025
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-dd07-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue

  • Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue:Untitled

Flag fragment from the Star-Spangled Banner.
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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