Resources
Reports & Studies
(2001, January 1). Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Management Plan. Chapter Four: A Strategy for Interpretation. Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission. https://www.mncppcapps.org/planning/Publications/PDFs/2/Chapter%204%20A%20Strategy%20for%20Interpretation.pdf.
(2004, April 1). Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement. National Park Service. https://documents.pub/document/star-spangled-banner-national-historic-trail-feasibility-star-spangled-banner.html?page=1.
(2008, July 28). REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND WAR OF 1812 BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION ACT. United States Congress Committee on Natural Resources. https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress/house-report/796/1.
(2009, January 1). Bladensburg Archaeology: Magruder House. Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/magruder-house-archaeological-report-public-2009-1.pdf.
(2009, January 1). Bladensburg Archaeology: Indian Queen Tavern. Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/indian-queen-tavern-archaeological-report-public-summary-2009.pdf.
(2009, January 1). Bladensburg Archaeology: Market Master's House. Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/market-masters-house-archaeological-report-public-summary-2009.pdf.
(2009, October 1). Historical Research Report for the Market Master's House, Magruder House, and the George Washington House: Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland. Maryland State Highway Administration. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/historical-research-report-for-the-market-masters-house-magruder-house-and-the-george-washington-house-2009.pdf.
(2011, January 1). Interpretive Plan. Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/management/upload/Final-STSP-Interpretive-Plan-1-26-2011-508.pdf.
(2011, January 1). Maritime History of the Port of Bladensburg. Maryland Historical Trust. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/maritime-history-of-the-port-of-bladensburg-maryland-historical-trust-2011.pdf.
(2012, January 12). Bladensburg Survey District (Port of Bladensburg). Maryland Historical Trust. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/PrinceGeorges/PG;69-5.pdf.
(2013, November 1). Archaeological Investigations of Seven Locations Association with the Bladensburg Battlefield. Maryland State Highway Administration. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/archaeological-investigations-of-seven-locations-associated-with-the-bladensburg-battlefield-2013.pdf.
(2021, January 1). Dueling Creek Heritage Trail Concept Plan. National Park Service & Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/dueling-creek-heritage-trail-concept-plan-2021.pdf.
(2021, April 1). Battle of Bladensburg Action Plan. Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. https://anacostiatrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/abpp-battle-of-bladensburg-action-plan-april-2021.pdf.
Interactive Battlefield Maps
The Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission and Star-Spangled 200, Inc. launched web-based resources that bring the story of our national anthem and the battles that inspired its writing to life. The organizations partnered with the National Park Service and award-winning interactive firm, Alexander + Tom, Inc. to design and develop the War of 1812 Interactive Battlefield Maps, interactive experiences whose purpose is to promote, educate, and inform a wide audience about Francis Scott Key, significant War of 1812 battles in the Chesapeake region, and the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Cutting-edge animated maps to illustrate Maryland’s unique contributions to the defense and heritage of the nation during four significant battles of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: the Battle of St. Leonard Creek, the Battle of Bladensburg, the Battle of North Point and the Battle of Baltimore. Each map provides an historical context of the battle, in addition to beautiful images, artwork, and video highlighting the history of each battle. Users can experience the battles in the Chesapeake Bay landscape as it was during the War of 1812 or toggle to the modern landscape of 2014.
Chesapeake Explorer App
The Chesapeake watershed is home to several thousand species of plants and animals, such as the blue crab and the bald eagle. The region is steeped in history, including the legacy of American Indians, the arrival of Europeans in the New World, the inspiration of the American Revolution, and the tragedy of the Civil War. Across the watershed are spectacular landscapes, such as the Shenandoah Mountains, the Susquehanna River Valley and Smith Island. The Bay’s waters represent a rich cultural heritage that includes world-renowned waterfowl hunting, trophy sport fishing, and the tradition of watermen who harvest fish, crabs and oysters. Chesapeake Explorer includes trails and activites along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail that includes Prince George's County site associated with the War of 1812.
War of 1812 Classroom Resource via ThinkPort
Thinkport is a gateway to Maryland Public Television’s educational offerings for PreK-12 teachers and students, child care providers and families. With hundreds of standards-aligned resources, Thinkport is a perfect destination for educators to access high-quality, trusted content that will inspire students and transform learning. And a catalog of credit-bearing online courses supports early childhood and K-12 educators with opportunities to meet their 21st century professional learning needs.
In 2012, an interactive website was created with classroom resources about the War of 1812. The website is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport in collaboration with the Friends of Fort McHenry and the National Park Service. The content of this website was supported in part by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, the National Park Service and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, and developed with the support of the Living Classrooms Foundation and the Friends of Fort McHenry.
"Hold the Fort!" Game
Created by the National Park Service, Hold the Fort! puts players in charge of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, responsible for the defense of the fort and the city. The game begins by introducing players to the situation in September 1814: after two years of war, the British have invaded Washington D.C. and burned the White House and are now sailing up the Chesapeake to attack Baltimore. Fort McHenry stands in their way -- but victory or defeat depends upon the player's nerve and wits. During the game, two mini-games let players take on two other roles at the fort: Music Corp: Play traditional songs on fife and drum a la Guitar Hero. Gun Captain: Aim and fire a cannon at the approaching British ships, trying to drive them back.
Smithsonian Star-Spangled Banner Educational Resources
Created by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, download lessons and activities for your classroom. All activities are linked to National History Standards.
UMD "Beyond the Battle: Bladensburg Rediscovered"
Every year, University of Maryland Special Collections & University Archives staff work together to create relevant and interesting exhibits on topics that are of interest to the University, the community, and to scholars.
In 2014, “Beyond the Battle: Bladensburg Rediscovered” was the featured gallery exhibit and opened to the public in August 2014, just in time for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bladensburg. We joined the rest of the State of Maryland in celebration of the War of 1812 and the Star Spangled Banner.
This website endures including a very detailed history, timeline, historic photos, and more.
Public Television Documentaries
Source Materials
Primary Sources
“The Bladensburg Races.” Magazine of American History, Vol XIX. July 1914: 204-211
Ball, Charles. Slavery in the United States: A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Charles Ball, a Black Man, Who Lived Forty Years in Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia, as a Slave Under Various Masters, and was One Year in the Navy with Commodore Barney, During the Late War. New York: Published by John S. Taylor, 1837.
Barney, Mary. Biographical Memoir of the Late Commodore Joshua Barney. Boston: Gray and Bowen, 1832 :263-268
Callcott, Margaret Law, ed. Mistress of Riversdale. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
Gleig, George Robert. A Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans. London: John Murray, 1821.
Hunt, Gaillard. The Writings of James Madison. Vol VIII. New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1908. 294-297
Madison, Dorthy Todd, ed. Memoirs and Letters of Mrs. Madison. Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Co., 1886.
McKenney, Thomas. “Battle of Bladensburg.” The Portico. Vol 5, 1818: 359-370.
Secondary Sources
Adkins, Milton. “Bladensburg Dueling Ground.” Magazine of American History, Vol 25. 1891: 18-34
Borneman, Walter. 1812: The War that Forged a Nation. New York: Harper Collins, 2005.
Brackenridge, Henry. History of the Late War, Between the United States and Great Britian. Philadelphia, PA: James Kay and Brother, 1836.
Burstein, Andrew. Madison and Jefferson. New York: Random House, 2010
“The Battle of Bladensburg.” Magazine of American History, Vol 14. 1885: 438-457
Lord, Walter. The Dawn’s Early Light. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994.
Lossing, Benson J. Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1868. (Chapter XXXIX)
Mahan, Alfred Thayer. Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812. Vol 2. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1905
Marine, William M. The British Invasion of Maryland 1812-1815. Baltimore: Society of the War of 1812, 1913.
Pitch, Anthony. The Burning of Washington. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1998.
Standiford, Les. Washington Burning. New York: Crown Publishers, 2008
Williams, John S. History of the Invasion and Capture of Washington and of The Events Which Preceded and Followed. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857.
Wharton, Anne Hollingsworth. Social Life in the Early Republic. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1902.