This week’s Highlighted Site is the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and its Star Spangled Banner Exhibit. Take a look at the gallery where our treasured flag has been housed since 2008.

It’s history is fascinating! According to the site:  “On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those ‘broad stripes and bright stars’ inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem. Key’s words gave new significance to a national symbol and started a tradition through which generations of Americans have invested the flag with their own meanings and memories.”

The National Museum of American History’s site is wonderfully interactive. You can collect stars to complete the flag by taking a quiz about the history of the War of 1812.

There is an interactive flag page where you can view details documenting the damage the flag has sustained and the various attempts to restore it over the years.

Sing along with the lyrics to the National Anthem on the O Say Can You Sing? page and watch a video of the winner of the National Anthem Singing Contest from 2009.

On the Share Your Story page, you have the opportunity to tell everyone what the flag means to you.

Check out their Twitter feed (@amhistorymuseum) and their Facebook!

I hope you enjoy this amazing exhibit and I wish each of you a great weekend!