F orm 10- 300 (Rev. 6-72)

THEHE : Major American Wa rs 'SUBTllEME : War of 1812 (IV)

' UNITED STATES DE~t~NT OF THE INT ERIOR

NA TIONAZ::Aa .SeC/ne n--t:- Ma l and COUNTY·

N A TION Al REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

--~ ,. --i-... --P~V. ENTORY - NOMINATION FORM al~l.: i(-.: · :;L l : v . --~~ 1.,,

Baltimore Cit FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY DATE

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L/,~;.:: J._ ,_ _.::~ i (Type a ll entries complete c:ipplicablc sections)

1. NAME COMMON:

Star-Spangled Banner Flag House ANDI OR H ISTORIC:

Star-Spangled Banner Flag House I 2 LOCATION ..

I ST REE-T ANCl NUMBER:

I 844 East Pratt Street I Cl TY OR TOWN: CONGRESSIONAL OISTRICT:

Baltimore Third STATE I CODE COUNTY : I CODE

Marv land 124 Baltimore 1510 I~- - CLASSIFICATION > · -·· ... : ~~,.; . ...... :.t~~

. ,,,._; .. - , :,;· , .. ,,.< : .. ::::.../,. ·::: < :·;. , .. ': " ·: ... .... ·< .

CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS

ACCESSIBLE

(Check One) TO THE PUBLIC

0 Oist-rict ~ Building ® Public Public Acquisition: '8J Occupied Yes:

0 Site 0 Structure 0 Private 0 In Process 0 Unoccupied 0 Restricted

0 Object 0 Both 0 Being Considered 0 Prese rvation work ® t,lnrestricted

in progress 0 No

PRESENT U~E (Check One or More as Appropriate)

0 Agricultural 0 Government 0 Pork 0 Tronspartotion 0 Comments

0 Commercia l 0 f,,dustriol 0 Privote Residence Q Othcr (Specify)

0 Educotionol 0 Military 0 Religious

0 Entertainment l}(l Mu$ e um 0 Scientific

f ~; ·-OW~ER Of PROPERTY -.: ·. ~; . ;, . · .. ·· .~.-~".t .. ·::: . r~ :.:.=- :.r_.;t-=:·;:. _:~-::~~~l:; ;;..-.:.~=·,_ · ··.>; .. ~ .. ; .... :~: ;·\:·i~=-I;;. ·;. ,:.i:~ .< · '.~:·· . ~-~ :::< ~( > .. :~~~;~~?. . : , . . "~-'· '

OWNER'S NAME:

~ Mayor and City Council of Ba l timore STREET ANO NUMSER: k

City Hall I-' ll>

CITY OR TOWN : STATE: ::l

COOF 0.

Baltimore Maryland 24 15- LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION

. . ·.-. .. ;-.·: .. ... ' . · . .. . .. :.:<;;·. ... ., .. , y ..

COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF OCEOS, ETC: ti;!

Baltimore City Courthouse DI I-'

5T_REET ANO NUMBER: ,., - Lexington and St . Paul Streets

...... a

Cl TY OR TOWN: STATE 0

COOE 11

Baltimore Maryland 24 (1)

f4.·,~ ~j: ~_F_Eg_~JAJ"IQN IN EXISTING SURVEYS : .... : ... .. . ., ' , . ~ :- -.:.; . ;;··. · ..

TITLE OF SURVEY:

Maryland State Survey D A TE OF 5U~VEY: 2/28/69 ® Federal 0 State 0 County 0 Loco I DEPOSITORY FOR SUR V EY RECORDS:

Maryland Historical -Trust STREET ANO N UMSER:

Box 1704 CITY OR TOW°": STATE: CODE -

Annapolis Marv land ?4

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G o od CONDIT ION

0 fair

( C h <'ck One)

0 Oeterio•ot<:d 0 R uins

( Check One)

n M<>ved ~Orig i nal Site.

The Flag House is a two-and-one-half story Federal corner row house of salmon brick lai~ in Flemish bond. Three bays wide, it has a black slate hipped roof and a chimney on the left side . Apparently , built in 1793 and ~dded to in 1820, the house has a living room, dining room-kitchen and hall on the first f loor, two bedrooms on the second and servants ' quarters on the third.

Nary Young Pickersgill bought the house in 1820 , after renting it for thirteen years . Almost i mmediately after acquiring the property , Mrs . Pickersgill added a two story wing in the rear (a kitchen on the ground floor and a boarder 's room on the· second) . She lived in this hous~ unt il her death in 1857, and it r emained in the family unti l 1864 . During the next six decades , the house changed hands frequently and served a variety of purposes, including those of saloon and warehouse . Alterations included the construction of a display window in front . ·

The City of Baltimore purchased the building in 1929 , and since that time it has been maintained as an historic building . One of the first things the c ity did was to r emove the storefront window and restore the original facade on the Pratt Street side . Other restoration work included reconstruction of a partition between the dining room and living room. Workmen added steel beams under the first floor for greater strength. The staircase and two of the six mantels in the house are original .

In 1953 the city erected a one-and- one-half story dependency building behind the main house. The new building, built in the same style , conforms well with the Flag House and is connected to it by a covered breezeway. Presendr::alled the 1812 Museum, the building contains , on the first floor, two rooms in which are placed mementoes of the War of 1812 that had originally been displayed in the Flag House. Located on the second f loor are the offices of the Star-Spangled Banne r Flag House Association, Incor­porated. This building is included in t he landmark.

Boundary Information and Justification

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House sits on a lot located at 844 East Pratt Street and faces south. Beginning at the point of intersection of East Pratt and Albemarle Streets proceed due north along the western side of Albemarle Street to a point of intersection with Granby Street ; thence pro­ceed west along the southern side of Granby Street to a point of intersec­tion with Sliunners Alley; thence proceed south along the eastern side of Slimmers Alley to a point of intersection with East Pratt Street; thence eas t along the northern side of East Pratt Street to the point of origin. An iron fence with interposing brick columns completel y surrounds this pro- . perty, and runs parellel to each street . Located in a garden on the west side of the house is a memor ial map of the Continental United States com­posed of stones from each of the then 48 states .

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ra. SIGNIFICANCE --~~~~~~~-~

1>£RIOO {Cliod< One 0 1 Moro,.. App1np1i<J tc)

0 Pre·Co 1umbio n :

0 15th Cen tu ry

0 16th Century

0 17th Cen t ury

Sl>ECll'I C O AT EISl . (lfApplic11 hfe ond Knovm) 1793-1857 A REAS Of' SIGNll'ICANCE

Aboriginal

(Che c k One or More os A ppropriotc)

0 P<ehistoric

0 Historic

0 Agriculture

0 Architecture

0 Art

0 Commerce

0 Communi cations

0 Conservotion

STA T EME NT Of' SIGNll'IC.O.NCE

0 Edvcoti on

0 Engineering

0 Indus t ry

0 Invention

0 Lon ch cope

Archi1ecture

0 Literature

~Military

O Music

0 CJ

0 0 0

0 0

0 18th Ccnrur y

;>'<l 19t h Cent vry

Pol itical

Religio n/ Phi.

los o phy

Science

Sculpture

Socio I/Human·

itorion

Theoter

Tronsportotion

0 20th Ccntvry

0 Ur ban Plonni ng

0 Othe< ($ped ly)

8- l5"

In her home at 844 East Pratt Street, Mary Young Pickersgill (1776-1857) designed and f abricated the flag that floated over Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore , September 13-14, 1814 . From an American sloop within the enemy fleet, Francis Scott Key, inspired by the sight of the "Star­Spangled Banner, 11 as she withstood heavy bombardment by the British secret weapon of rockets , wrote the poem which tqday is heard around the world as the National Anthem of the United States of Ame rica.

Assisted in the work by her daughter, her niece , and her mother , Mrs . Pickersgill completed the flag on August 13, 1813, to fulfil l her contract

·with local military authorities. Thirty by 42 feet, the flag upon its completion was the largest in the world and featured 15 giant stars 2nd 15 mammoth stripes . The f l ag, which has been pres erved in fairly good condition, is the property of the Smithsonian Institution and may be seen on display in the museum of History and Technology in Washington, D.C.

r 9 . MAJOR B113LIOGRAPH1CA L REFERENCE S ------ ----- -

Ma1-y.:.Paulfing Martin, "The Flag House , " September 9, 1969 in fil es of Mary-l and Historical Trus t .

Mary- Paulfing !iartin, "The Making of the Star Spangl ed Banner, II typescrip t, Sept ember 9, 1969 in fie ls of the Nary l and Historica l Trus t.

Admiral George Henry Preble , The Origin and History of the American Flag , (No publisher given, 1917) .

r 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA -. I

. --LATI TUDE ANO L ()N (; ITUD E COOR D INATES ._ .. TITUl"E A...,C' L("'l~G 1 T••o£. t:QO~OI N 4TES

DEFINING A RECTA N GLE LOCATING THE PR0°E"R-r Y 0 OE FININ G Th .._ l.. t:...r' ... T:;.f.l POIN I Of= A ~ t'f OJ'E R TV

R,___· OF L ESS TH• N TFN ACRES - --C O RN E R L A T ITU DE LONGITU D E L A T ITUDE LONGITUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds D" grees Minures s.,conc:fs Degrees Minutes Seconc:ls Degrees Minutes Seconds NW 0 . .. 0 . . 0 . . 0 . .

0 . . 0 .

NE . . UTM l 8.36l700 .434r700 SE 0 . . 0 . . c;,w 0 . . 0 . . I

A PPROXI M• T E A CREAG E OF N OMIN AT ED PROPERTY: 2 acres V\ f\..IST • LL ST•TES A NO C OUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERL A.PP IN G ST A TE OR COUNTY BOUN DARIES

STATE: CODE COUNTY CO O E m m

STATE: COOE COUNTY: CODE

-STATE: COD E COUN TY : C ODE

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STATE: CODE COU NTY: CODE -t ;o

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NAM E ANO Tl TLE:

Joseph Scott Mendinghall , Historian n OR GANI ZA T ION I 0;~;2/75 -t

Historic Sites Survey, National Park Service -STR E ET AN O NUMBER: 0

1100 L Street NW . z CITY OR TOWN: STATE COOE

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Washington D.C . 11 p2. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICA) ION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

As the designated Stale L iais on Officer for the Na-

tional Historic Preservation Act of J966 (Public Law I hereby certify that this property is included in the

89.{)65), I hereby nomina t e this properly for inclusion N11tional Register. lT~ ~':'C;~1 C \ i{A':°i0"' ,\:::,

in the National Register and certify thfll it has been L .... . , ., J - - - -JJ • Li· . ..a;. ·- - -· -"valuatt"d accordini;: to the c·iteria and proce~res set Lcnd:::~ -i,. • ·-... -

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended

""•°'°'• omoo o< '"',Z}'lt""'1}1<-"'1~~ ""£:'"

level of significance of this nomrnation is: ~ 1 6 1 ~ 1· ltL National 0 State 0 Local 0 (l·:A'I'lO' • ·~~ - - •= J-/ . . -· . --:" . ..:· --::~:..: - __., ,

(NATlOUAL HISTORIC C"!e LAJ, !Jt.:- .:t•J } 1 '"'""- · -~ ·· •

" Name LAlrn~.U.HKS)

...... . . . . . . . . . C::~ ..:: i r - : _, .r:-

. ...... .... ATTEST: . ·--·-·· ~ co:p

A:c~1. S:.:.:v ::-: 11·

Title - ·~

- h"'\•"'- 1 ....... . r . ( llATI01lA1 •. ~~-~TORIC Keeper ot!J'/ ~on~···--- ·; v

W .. .. -~ .. . <-(~-~ >-5- ~. Date

LA.11LJ}.\.:..t' •• ,::> l [)ate r.· .,, __ _ A- · · ... ·'

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F orm No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

Rn. 7-72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Maryland

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HI STORIC PLACES COUNTY

Baltimore (City) PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

• (Type all entries • attach to or enclose with map) ENTRY NUMBER I CATE

I fl . NAM·E ... .., . ·' ... /:·. <-f' . .<-;i\ .. ,''· :.; :;·,:: , .... . ...

COMMON: The Star Spangled Banner Flag House ANO/O R HISTORIC: The Star Spang.led Banner Flag House

(2 •. LOCA.TIQN ' ' .. :~?-.':; ,._ ·;;:_ . +·;g,(;.j;=:.: < ,,,. .. 'i:·: . ' . .. ;.. , . ;.~·: . ,. '

STREET ANO NUMBER:

844 East Prat t Street CITY OR TOWN: •

Bal timore ~TATE: I CODE lcOUNTY : l CODE

Marv land I 24 I Baltimore r c;rn 13. MAP ·REFERENC.E ·:·,.::._-./-.·:.:';:,,":i:::·, ......... . . /

~

' .. ; .~·: ::. ···,;··: .. :· ;. :': ..

SOURCE:

U.S.G.S. 7.5 series Baltimore East Quadran2le SCALE: 1:24.000 DATE: 1953 (oho torevised 1966)

[4; . REQUIREMENTS .:· _-,, ... :,.,. ·' "'>Y·J ... ,,",;,.:· ,.,., ... ::,:·:';: ... .. ·" ;~ '

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required.

2. North arrow .

3. La ti t ude and longitude reference.

INT: 1111-72

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UNITEDSTATESD EPAHIMLNI u r ' """' - ' ... , .. ,...,, .. NATI ONAL PARK SERVICE M~ryland ..

REG( :R OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

... . NATIONAL Lli (City) - more PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

(Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) ENTRY NUMOER I OATE

I 11.·: NAME .

COMMON : The Star Spangl ed Banner Flag House .. ANoloA HISTOAl.C: The St ar Spangl ed Banner Flag House

l2. LOCAT ION . STREET ANO NUMBER:

844 East Pratt Street !CITY OR TOWN:

Baltimore STATE: I C:OOE l couN TY: I CO OE

Maryland I :t4 I Baltimore 1 sro 13.: PHOTO REFERENCE I

PHOTO C:AEOIT: Joseph s. Mendinghall OAT£ OF PHOTO: 7/74 i'fEGATIVE FIL.ED AT:

Historic Sites Survey j'f.;: iQENTIF ICA TIOl>t '·' ··:·'.· ,.;· . . -: . ~ . ··.• -;. : . .

DES c:· RI B E V I E W, 0 I A EC Tl 0 N , E T C: •

Form No. 10-3010 (7fl2l

!

Rear view, looking southeast.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

·.·. . ,. .. . ... ·,·.

STAT&;

Maryland COUNTY

Baltimore (City) FOR NPS USE ONLY

l

(Type a ll entries - attach to or enclose with photograph) ENTRY NUMBER I DA fE

I % m: t-i~ME:-<q'<:~:·j; . .;,,'hf\·.'.c-.-;,{\, ·:::t"·.: .. = .. \,·: ·,: .:L::F·:,)~· .. '>;···/:·\·.'/» <.?<·~· ··.;.~{,.\: • . .r·: ~'°'.'$'.'f~-~~:%".:'':'·: <·' ''.''. 7 .··=J'> o c oMMoN : me ::>tar ~pangled Banner Flag House

ANoloR H1sToR1 c: rne ~tar ~nan2led Banner FlaS! House

isTAEE T ANO NUMBER:

844 East Pratt Street C I TY OR TOWN 1

Baltimore STATE: I cooE l c ouN TY:

"' Maryl and I 24 I Bal tirnore :z p~ P.HOT.P RFFERENCE ,.:, . ·, · " .. '. ··'.,·:.,.-"\::.c:~j;'\ ... . _ ·,-''.·' > · .:,(•.:-=:·,,~=/··"

PHoTo cREorT, J oseph S. Mendin~hall /·.,,:

OATE OF PHOT01 'f /74 w NEG ... TIVE F11..Eo u : Historic Sites Survey w "' 14 •. l!:~ENTIFICATION ·: . "

·::..,.;.- ....... OESCAIBE VIEW, DIRECTION , ETC: .

View of front and east side , looking northwest

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Form \O· lOO (July,.j;69) •

UNITED STATES~RhlEN f OF THE 1:HERIOR NA T - L PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY - NOMI NATION FORM

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.land B--15 jCOl. t< TV·

I Bal tinore Ci ty I

--~~~~-~~--i

FOR NP:. use ONLY

l - -=~ _:__:v:_:.:'_~ ___ !~_o_•_-r_E'_-f ( Type :1/f c ntri t.:.s - compfotc .1µplii.:::ibft• :s~·c tions) I

·---------------'----------------------{ ~AME ---- -- ----------- - --- I

The Flag House - ~ -· -- --- --------- ·--1 AN O Ofi >·U5f0~1 C·

The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House ... " -----------=---===------------=----------------------' '--~L_O_CA110~N:..:_ _ _____________________ _______________ ~ ST~E l!:T A:-< !;." t'. ll M i'!F. R :

l_844. Eas t Pratt Street ---·---·· CIT Y OH TOWN:

Baltimore S TA TE I CO D F. 1cou NTV · • I COD E

Maryland I 19 I Baltimore City 1'5 10 ~ C.LASSIFICATiON

-..

CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE OWNER SH IP STATUS

TO THE PUBLIC ( Chotcl< O n.-)

0 O;srric1 XI Bui I d ing ~ Publ ic Pvbl ic Acquis i t ion: -~ Occupi•cl Yes :

D Site 0 0 Private 0 In Proces.s CJ Unoccup ied 0 R .. sttichrd Structure-

0 Object 0 Both lJ Sein; Consl de r•d 0 Pr•servotion work ~ Unrestri c ted

in progress 0 No I

PRESENT U5E (Ch~~k On<" or Mor,;" " Appropr l,.fflJ l

0 Agrievlturol 0 Government 0 Pork G Tron~portot i on ["J Comments j CJ

I 0 Comme rc;ol Industria l 0 Pri voto Residence 0 Other (SP•clly) ' Ji:! Educational ~ Mil ito ry 0 Rsllgious - ----! 0 Enter to inment [X Museum 0 Sc 1e n 11f1e

-- - ----- - 1 -4. OWNER OF PROPERTY

1..-___,:.,,....;......;,__,--~------------'--~--~·~-------------0WNER'S NAME:

Department of Real Estate, City of Baltimore STREET AN O NUMBEN:

.,. .. ~ ..

l iii' ::: 1-1

212 City Hall, Fayette and Holliday Streets ~

ciB;iti;~re ____ .. ___ ---~=~~~---_r 1 ATMaryl~-d-------.-------;. [ LocA"Tio-ttot= .. i::eGAL 0EscR1PnoN - --- -------------------'----! Ba~ timore City Courthouse ______ __ ___ _

i n tr;10

---------.'o P ~ . ·I-'., S TREET AN t:.> NUMBER:

St. faul and Fayette Streets Ct TV OR TOWN :

Baltimore

16- REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS

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__ Ma_r_y_1_~_d ______ ..... I _ .__, ..... i - --'-"--

' Ii I T I T~~:~;~~~~ for ~istorical & Architectural Preservation : ; ~ ,, tiCJ Fedor~-1 ---Xi ~~te iX Cour.,t~ __ :~_ Lo~~I -~=r- ·p ~ C'I A TE O F SURVEY: 1.9..§9..._ ___ _

DEP OSITOR ' FO ~ SURVC:V RE CORDS:

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21202__J_lg·--j / ~ I

~HIEET ANO NUMflE R:

402 City Hall ------------~ -

Cl TY O R TOWN :

Baltimore ..__ __________ - - --- --l_. ~

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L?O:._~-~~CRl~_!l~~---r __ ____ ---_- ·-~-- -X E.ce llt·;i • Cc .J LJ F a •

CONDITION - ·- - --- · - - - - - --- -f c ,i, _., k O n t J

'. A ltereJ X U .1 .il le1ed ·-- -·-- ~ -·· --- --- · ~ - - -

OES <= Cf l B~ l HL ""'h£:.":LN r 4N D OR I G1 N ..;. L ' , , &..n,11··0 1 ·-·H' '.) I C " L ~ P ..,E A R"'N CE

The Sta r-Spangled Banner Fl:tg House is l ocat ed on the uorthwest corner of East Pratt Street , Baltirno~e , Maryland .

The approximate square fuot gr ound cover a ge of th e house is 854 square feet. The property is 0 .4 43 a cres (19,317 square feet) .

Built about 1793, one of the oldest houses in the area. it is a two-and-a-half-story, rectangular, corner row house of salmon brick laid in Flemish bond with black slate hipped roof. Facing on Pratt Street, the narrow facade has three second-floor windows, two first-floor windows and an entrance. The longer elevation on Albemarle Street has a grouping of five windows on each floor. The north bays fonn an addition of about 1820.

The entrance door on Pratt Street is in the southeast corner of the house. The entrance used by the public through the Albemarle Street gate is on the northeast corner of the north (1820) addition. The roofline runs north/south.

Restored in the Federal (1800-1 825) period, the house cont.ains many original mantels and doors, butterfly shelves and cupboards. The stairway with poplar rail and half rail is original. Many Pickersgill possessions have been returned to the house including a desk, tea set, Lowesto f t platter, Waterford pitchers and a punchbowl, French Empire clock, and scent bottles.

On the yard a Stone Map of the United States, composed of stones native to each state, gives a graphic geography lesson.

In 1953, a Museum was built north of the main building, attached by an open, roofed breezeway. It houses exhibits of the ,,War of 1812, ship models, muskets, pistols, swords, epaulets and bright figurines.

The house is situated south of the Shot Tower and the "'"' Carroll Mansion.

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SICNIFICANCE

' PERIOD (Chee·~ Or .Ht

0 Pre-C olumbian

fl I 5th Century

Abor iginol

CJ Prehistoric

0 Historic

rJ Agriculture

Kl Archi1ecture

("'} Art

L:J Commerce

(] Communicoti ons

t J Conservation

--·--·- - -- --·, 16th c~nrv·y

1 17 th c~n t ,• ry

JO E: ducal! on

(J En9inee11ng

CJ 1,,dusrry

( I ln~ention l J LonJHope

l_J L11erolvro

lJd Mol i lory

I ] Music

STO.TEMEH T OF SIGNIFIC. .. NC.E

fV!H'l' 9 ... t 5

X. 18rh C enl ..:•y

t t l9rh c . ...... ry

----·- --··--·- -

"lC• Pof11icol

0 Relig ion ' Ph i .

losophy

I "I Science

[ I Sculpture

•

Xl Soc1ol Human·

itorion

t I rt-.. orer

I' J Transportat ion

. • Urb ot1 P lJ1 ... . n~

X , 01h,., ( :>r1<·-i l1·1

Culture ---- -

The national significance of this building is its association with the creation , representation, interpretation. and symbolism of our original Star Spangled Banner flug; · the subsequent and lasting sight of the flag fly~g which J. inspired Francia Scott Key, on September 14, 181..,-, to com-pose the Star Spangled Banner , our National Anthem .

Mrs. Mary Young Pickersgill was the niece of Colonel Benjamin Flower, Commissary General for George Washington,

hose portrait by Charles Willson Peale , now hangs in the house. Mrs. Pick~sgill was the owner at the time she and her daughter ~ewe~ in this building, the fifteen star -fifteen stripe original Star Spangled Banner that so defiant-ly flew over Fort McHenry through the night of bombardment during the Battle of Baltimore in 1813-1814. The symbol of American independence and the patriotism that over the ye~rs has grown in stature by stars and stripes, flie s proudly twenty-four hours of each day over the Fort .

Mrs. Pickersgill' s home was recognized by an act of· Congress June 1954 , thereby according it, also, the privilege of flying an American flag twenty-four hours a day . Thus Baltimore is privileged to have two of the five such d is- ' tinguished national sites .

,.. During the remainder of the nineteenth century the h'-ouse was a rowhouse on Pratt Street in Baltimore. The patriotic fervor engendered during the ceremonies surrounding the Star Spanglea Banner Centennial in 1914 awakened an in­terest in the structure because of its relation to the Star Spangied Banner flag, the American symbol . In 1927, the City of Baltimo~e purchased the house, to preserve the t ang­ible remnant of the story and events relating to the flag of 1814 .

The Star-Spangled Banner Fla g House Association was created to preserve the meaning and the message enacted a t Fort McHenry ; to interpret the ev~lution and represen~at ion

[see continuation sheet] ......_------· ------ ~---------- -- - - -- -- ·-

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MHT B-15 ICE5 - , - ---- - -----.,......., ·----· I --··---- ------------'-----'

Recorders: Mrs . Hugh D. Martin , Director of the Star-Spcutgled Banner Flag House Associa tion , Inc .; 844 Eas t Pratt Street , Baltimore, Maryland.

Miss Nancy Miller, Historian, Maryland Hist orical Trust, P . O. Box 1704 , Armapolis , l'l:d . 21404

Mary-Paulding Martin, "The Flag House ,'' typescript, Septemter 1969 , photostat i n f i l es of Maryland Historical Ttust.

CORNER 1.. ATI TU O E 1..0NGI TUDE , .. ;..rir...:oE t . ;:-.~ .31 r ..... : · . 1-- - - ------·- ·-----i-- -- - .-· -

Degrees Minvles Snconds O .. grees Minute> Sec.>nch C'e yre1:$ M tih. f e' S Se ..:cnch M• nul~>

NW 0 . . 0 39 ° 17· 15 . 36· NE 0 . . 0

SE 0 . . 0

SW 0 . 0 . .--~-'--·~-------------------------- --------·---

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APPROXIMATE ACAEAGE OF NOMINA TED PROPEATY :

!----------···---------- - ---- - .. . _0.443 acre · ___ --· .. ···---------.l..IST A l..I.. STATES ANO COUNTI ES FOR PROPERT I ES OVER L APPING STA T F. OR COU NTY OOUNO llRIL ~

!---------------------~---- - ~----- ------ -ST A T E: CODE COUN TY

!-------------------·--- ------- ·-·- -- --- - - - - - - - -----·- _...._ __ -' STA TE: CO D £ C: O UNl' Y · (".:> r • . I

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;.._: .)['£:: I STATE: COOE' o:Ou "Tv ,

STATE: C OV"-lV. ___ . _______ _JS ---· -- - -----l

J1-l-'l-• . -F-O_R_M_P_R_E_P_A_R_E_D __ B_Y _ _ ______ _,___._ __ - -

NAME ANO T ITl..E:

Mrs . Preston Parish, Keeper of the Maryland Register I 1-------------------------O RG AN I Z ATI ON

Maryland Historical Trust !----·- - - --------- --· -··· -- --·

S TRE ET AN O NUMB Ef'I :

P. O. Box 1704 !--- ------------- ----- - ·-·. CITY OR TOWN:

Annapolis _ _,__ _____________ ~---·--- -·---·· ·- -·-- -! 12. ST ATE LIAl50N OFFICER CERTIFICA I ION

As the de sil;(nnted St Hl<' Liais ,111 Oifii:<'r l"r th .: N;o ·

tional lli:<toric.-,Preservation /\c t o( lQ(1b \{•uhl !C' I <i\~

89-!>6:i). 1 ht!teby nominate tlli's pro11erty for 1ndusio n

in the Natiun .. I Rt:~ister ancl C.:•'rtiry tha~ it ha s bct:n

evaluated a .-cortlln11; to the c.:rlt•·ria ,11\tl prucc<lu res se t

forth by tho: National Park S<•n•ict'. The rc c.1111111e mlo: d

level M si~ni ficuncc o f this m•n11m1 t ion is :

National .;&: St.it..: ["_] L o.:al t 1

•' . ,/ I

'- . Orlando Ridout IV

Ti11 .. State Liaison Officer for Maryland

~ov 1 o rnss

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- - - - ·· ~------=- - _ f'~o-~-c~-t-.=~~~-,·-,-s-_69J i I

·- ------·--- ---- - - - , ·~:H"'> I Maryland 21404 n ·g­. 1 .

NATIONAL REGISTER V ERIF IC ~T IC'- -'i

[.,~· tt• - - - ----------------ATTtSI' :

----··--·-------------

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, ... ~ '· .L D - r ,,,t

r Form 10·3000 (july 1969)

UNI TED HATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR .f ' TIONA L PARK SERVICE ·

HATIOHAL ~_ .. ISTER OF H.ISTORIC PLACES

IHVEHTORY - HOMINATIOH FORM

~ylond --.] B-1s-ST AT to

co

Baltimore City FOR NPS USE ONLY

1--~~- ~~~----<

(Continuation Sheet) ENT'lY N UMllE R

( Number nll entries)

The Flag House

#6 . REPRESEN'I'ATION Irl EXISTING SURVEYS (cont inued)

Historic American Buildings Survey

1964

Library of Congress Washington, D. c. 20540 Code: 08

Maryland Register of historic sites &: landmarks

1969 Maryland Historical Trust P. o. Box 1704 Annapolis, Maryland 21404 Code: 19

#8 . SIGNIFICANCE (continued)

of the tangible evidence of our national symbols , the flag and the National Anthem.

DA f £

The Association maintains the building to house a museum endemic to the War of 1812 as a permanent exhibit; to act as the clearing house for all questions relating t o the several flags of the nation; to serve the several thousand school chil­dren visitors annually; to distribute the regulations for , the use of our national flag, The United States Flag Code and kits containing information and instructions for cl assroom use •

.:· ' Since ·1939, the Association has sponsored National

Flag Week, a seven-day commemoration of our flag.

,F orm 10-3000 (July 1969)

(Number all enltle1)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INT ERIOR NATION AL PARK SERVICE

NATIOHA~ .G IST ER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY . HOMIHATIO~ FORM

(Continuation Sheet)

The Flag House

#9 ~ .REf'ER.ENCES

ST .. T E

11."aryland TY

Baltimore City ------<

FOR NPS USE ONLY 1---------·--.--- - --1 ENTR Y NUMB E R

•

---, "The Making of the Star Spangled Banner," typescript , September 9, 1969 , in files of Maryland Historical Trust

James Calhoun to Mary Pickersgill, Receipt for the Star Spangled Banner Flag, August 13, 1813 (pho~ostat in files of . Maryland Historical Trust).

Admiral George Henry Preble, The Origin and History of the American Flag, (no publisher given , 1917)

Mrs. Hugh D. Martin, Director of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association, Inc.; Interview, October 16, 1969

0 Noteworthy Echos of the Great Star-Spangled Banner Centennial," Baltimore Municipal Journal, III (April 23, 1913), 10-11. Pratt Liorary, Baltimore, Maryland.

The Baltimore Sun, March 16, 1954 and June 9, 1954 .

,__ ___________________ - -- -------- ----

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Fl g House) B-15 (Star-Spangled Banner a Fl g House a tt Street B44 E Pra

Block .1377 ~ot 016 Baltimore City d Baltimore East Qua .

B-15 Flag House (Star-Spangled Banner Flag House) 844 East Pratt Street Baltimore City

c. 1793, 1820

Apparently built c. 1793 and added to in 1820, the Flag House is a 2 1/2-

story Federal corner rowhouse of salmon brick laid in Flemish bond. Three bays

wide on its south or front side, the house was originally three bays long on the

east facade, but was expanded to the north by two additional bays. A large

chimney protrudes from the west side of the hip roof, and a smaller chimney rises

from the north end. Two gable-roofed dormers with 6/6 sash windows pierce the

east slope of the roof, and a single dormer pierces the south slope. First and

second floor windows throughout hold 9/6 sash. These represent restoration

work, as a 1953 photograph shows 6/6 sash on the first flooir. First floor windows

have paneled shutters, while those on the second floor have louvered shutters.

At the time of the photograph, a combination door and shop window comprised

the center and east bays of the south facade. This facade has undergone a

restoration, and the entrance with a three-light transom and paneled reveal

stands in the east bay, with two windows to the left. The center bay of the east

facade also contained a door in the 1953 photograph, but this has been restored

to a window opening. A brick watertable spans only the south facade. On the

interior, the house has a living room, a dining room-kitchen, and hall on the first

floor, two bedrooms on the second floor, and servants' quarters on the third. A

display building was constructed in the front of the building in the late 19th or

early 20th century. After the City of Baltimore purchased the building, the facade

was restored to its original appearance, an original interior partition was

reconstructed, and steel beams were added under the first floor for greater

strength. The staircase and two of the six mantels in the house are original. In

1953 a 1 1/2-story dependency building was constructed to the rear, connected

to the main house by a covered breezeway.

In August of 1813, Mrs. Mary Young Pickersgill and her daughter finished

sewing a 15-star, 15-stripe American flag commissioned to be flown over Fort

McHenry. The flag measured 30 feet by 42 feet. It flew over Fort McHenry

during the British attack on Baltimore, and on the night of September 13-14,

1814, served as the inspiration for a poem by Francis Scott Key which eventually

became the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

B-IS

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