See the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian

The flag measures 30 by 42 feet and once flew over Fort McHenry.

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Stars, Stripes & Symbols: 25 Icons of America to Experience in Person

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About this

The original Star-Spangled Banner, the massive garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment in 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem, is preserved at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Measuring roughly 30 by 42 feet, the wool bunting flag bears fifteen stars and stripes and shows the battle scars and repairs accumulated over two centuries of display. Conservators have painstakingly stabilized its fragile fibers, removed damaging adhesives from earlier restorations, and housed it in a state-of-the-art, low-light chamber where visitors can view the artifact through a climate-controlled glass wall. The flag’s survival and meticulous preservation embody the nation’s enduring commitment to safeguarding the tangible symbols of its founding ideals.

This page uses an image from the Wikipedia article on Star-Spangled Banner (flag) and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (view authors).