Fort McHenry with Kids: 5 Ways to Make it a Memorable Experience!
Are anyone else’s kids completely obsessed with visiting forts? Our kids have visited forts up and down the eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean and let me tell you, they haven’t met a fort they didn’t like! When mapping out our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, I knew we had to add Fort McHenry to our itinerary.
Not only do the kids love forts, but they also collect National Park Passport stamps. Visiting the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine was a no-brainer!
I know what you’re thinking, “Okay, cool… your kids like forts. But what is there for them to do at a fort?” Believe it or not, there’s plenty for kids to do at forts. Here are our kids’ favorite things to do at Fort McHenry.
Table of Contents
5 Things to do at Fort McHenry
Watch the Film
Your first stop at Fort McHenry should be the Visitor Center, where you can watch the film about the Battle of Baltimore. The entertaining 13-minute video is a great introduction to the Battle of Baltimore on September 13th and 14th, 1814. This famed battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, which would later become the National Anthem.
The must-see movie is free to watch and runs every 30 minutes. Even our kids, 7, 7, and 10 enjoyed the feature. Be sure to stick around for the impressive ending!
Visit the Museum
After watching the movie, spend time in the Visitors Center museum. They have a great collection of artifacts including models, weaponry, and uniforms from the War of 1812 to World War I.
Tour the Fort
The Star Fort is open daily from 9 am to 4:45. Admission is free for ages 15 and under, and $15 for ages 16 and up. Learn about the fort’s history from the War of 1812 through World War I. Visitors can walk through the buildings and bastions to see what life was like for American soldiers during this time. Our kids pretended to be soldiers and enjoyed popping in and out of the various rooms that were open to explore.
Become a Junior Ranger
The Junior Ranger program is a fantastic way for kids to learn about a National Park site. Children can complete a series of tasks to earn a Junior Ranger badge. These tasks can range from drawing a badge, word searches, BINGO, fill in the blanks, and locating facts about the site. The number of tasks required to collect the badge varies based on the location, so be sure to ask the Park Ranger for specific details.
Don’t be jealous, grownups can earn badges too! The Junior Ranger program is open to everyone!
Walk the Seawall Trail
Take time to walk the Seawall Trail and Ravelin Trail. The grounds that the fort was built on offer beautiful views of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor. From the southern tip of the fort (and the Seawall Trail, you can see the now-collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Where is Fort McHenry located?
Physical Address:
2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Read How We Visited 3 States in 1 Day! (Including a visit to Fort McHenry).
Other Cool Information
Distance From Major Cities
- Washington, DC- 42 mi
- Philadelphia, PA- 104 mi
- New York City, NY- 190 mi
- Pittsburgh, PA- 249 mi
- Akron, OH- 375 mi
- Buffalo, NY- 373mi
- Cleveland, OH- 397 mi
- Charlotte, NC- 443 mi
Distance from Nearby National Parks
- Shenandoah National Park- 109 mi
- New River Gorge National Park- 338 mi
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park- 353 mi
- Congaree National Park– 535 mi
National Parks Sites in Maryland
- ◽ Antietam National Battlefield
- ◽Appalachian Scenic Trail
- ◽Assateague Island National Seashore
- ◽Catoctin Mountain Park
- ◽ Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- ◽Chesapeake Bay Watershed
- ◽Clara Barton National Historic Site
- ◽Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
- ◽Fort Washington Park
- ◽ George Washington Memorial Parkway
- ◽Greenbelt Park
- ◽Hampton National Historic Site
- ◽Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- ◽Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
- ◽Monocacy National Battlefield
- ◽Piscataway Park
- ◽Thomas Stone National Historic Site
- ◽Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail
FAQ About Fort McHenry
Is Fort McHenry worth visiting?
Fort McHenry is an excellent place to learn about the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. The fort is well-preserved and certainly worth a visit.
How much time do you need at Fort McHenry?
Plan on spending at least an hour at the fort to really enjoy it.
Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure
For future reference, save our post: “5 Things to Do in Gettysburg with Kids”. While you’re at it, browse the Ulitmate National Park Bucket List. Plan your trip around Free National Park Days and learn about The National Park’s Awesome Junior Ranger Program.
While on our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, we also visited the nearby Eisenhower National Historic Site and Hersheypark.
Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!
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