The Baltimore Battle Monument was erected to honor the city's defenders in the years following the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. When it was dedicated in 1825, newspapers throughout the country published articles praising it.

The monument became famous throughout America, and for a time it was the symbol of the defense of Baltimore. The flag from Fort McHenry was also venerated, but not in public.

The original flag had been kept by Major George Armistead, who died at a relatively young age in 1818.

His family kept the flag at their house in Baltimore, and prominent visitors to the city, as well as local War of 1812 veterans, would call at the house to see the flag.

People who had a connection to Fort McHenry and the Battle of Baltimore often wanted to own a piece of the famous flag. To accommodate them, the Armistead family would snip pieces off the flag to give to visitors. The practice eventually came to an end, but not before about half the flag had been distributed, in small swatches, to deserving visitors.

The Battle Monument in Baltimore remained a cherished icon ? and is being restored for the War of 1812 Bicentennial ? but over the decades of the 19th century the legend of the flag spread. Eventually the flag became a famous symbol of the battle, and the public wanted to see it put on display.