An Old-Fashioned Fourth

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
Date: June 30, 2009

Fort McHenry Commemorates July 4th in Grand Style

Independence Day will be celebrated at Fort McHenry in true wild and historic fashion with cannon-firing, toasting and feasting! “Our ancestors knew how to blend the solemnity and importance of the occasion with a good party” says Ranger Vince, who will be dressed in full historic dress for the occasion.

Independence Day celebrations came into their own just before the War of 1812 and this July 4th the park hopes to give visitors a sense of the historical origins of the holiday. Visitors are invited to join the garrison of the fort as they commemorate the Glorious Fourth with fife and drum music, cannon-firing, poetry reading, hanging King George in effigy, musket salute for 18 states, period games, feasting and historic toasts! The highpoint of the event will be at 3:00 p.m. with a public reading of The Declaration of Independence!

12:00 noon – Unfurling of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag by visitors
1:00 – Events begin with a BLAST! - Cannon firing demonstration outside the fort
1:30 – Musket firing salute for each of the 18 states during the War of 1812
2:30 – Sing along - Poetry Reading – historic poems and songs that speak to the holiday
3:00 – Public Reading of The Declaration of Independence!
3:30 – Toast like a Revolutionary! - Historic toasts!
4:00 - Cannon-Firing demonstration

Ongoing: Period games visitors can join in! Visitors are invited to join in the feasting and toasting with their own picnic lunch and bottled water.



Last updated: February 26, 2015

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

2400 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21230

Phone:

410 962-4290 x250

Contact Us