We need
for history!
During a time of unprecedented change and variability, there are certain enduring symbols of hope and familiarity that keep Baltimore feeling like home. As the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner", and a site receiving over 500,000 visitors annually, Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine is one of Baltimore's most popular outdoor spaces. Truly, a hidden gem within our city boundaries. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Friends of Fort McHenry, a program of Living Classrooms, supports the development and implementation of educational programming and living history activities, and the creation of interpretive exhibits and visitor facilities that best engender the widest possible understanding and appreciation of Fort McHenry and the enduring legacy and promise of our National Anthem.
Like many institutions, Friends of Fort McHenry has been dramatically impacted by the pandemic and we need your help to enable the continuation and support of our mission. In the immediate weeks following stay-at-home orders, Friends of Fort McHenry creatively pivoted to meet the evolving needs of the pandemic, creating compelling virtual educational programming and living history activities. Unfortunately, due to government mandated closures and regulations, Friends of Fort McHenry have cancelled all special events for this year. These events, such as our Annual Crab Feast and The Star Spangled Spectacular, raise critical funds for our organization.
In order to better serve the Fort & our community, we must address the current challenge of citywide educational mandates, pushing for a more virtual scope of learning and education. To answer that challenge, Friends of Fort McHenry is managing the creation and production of educational content through our Living History Youth Employment Program.
As we are unsure of what the school year will continue to look like, the Friends will meet the challenge head on by planning for a Hybrid Young Defenders' Day, encompassing both in person and online access points. The Friends are also updating our national curriculum "Long May It Wave", originally created for the Bicentennial celebration. This update will include meeting new state curriculum standards as well as updating technical accessibility and broadening the historical prospectives represented in the lesson plans.
As the National Park Service focuses on broadening the scope of the histories they share and encompass a fuller perspective of who and how Fort McHenry and Baltimore were defended,
Friends of Fort McHenry will lead historical & socially driven conversations for the community to engage in and learn from. These conversations will be in partnership with the National Park Service and local historical partners.
Sponsorship Levels
COLONEL | $10,000
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Supports the creation & production of Virtual Living History Interpretive Videos
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Helps Employ 6 Living History Youth Participants
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Supports Critical Updates to "Long May It Wave", our national curriculum for 4th-8th graders used by Baltimore City Schools
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Provides Hybrid Educational Programming for 400 Students during Young Defenders' Day
MAJOR | $5,000
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Help Employ 3 Living History Youth Participants
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Supports Critical Updates to "Long May It Wave", our national curriculum for 4th-8th graders used by Baltimore City Schools
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Provides Hybrid Educational Programming for 200 Students during Young Defenders' Day
CAPTAIN | $2,500
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Help Employ 1 Living History Youth Participant
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Sponsor 2 Star-Spangled Community Conversations: Broadening our Local Histories
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Provides Hybrid Educational Programming for 100 Students during Young Defenders' Day
LIEUTENANT | $1,000
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Sponsor 1 Star-Spangled Community Conversation: Broadening our Local Histories
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Provides Hybrid Educational Programming for 40 Students during Young Defenders' Day
For more information or customizable sponsorship packages, please contact:
Jesse Miller at info@friendsfortmchenry.org
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We know that creating a better Baltimore requires many hands and we need your support to fulfill our mission of supporting living history, educational programs and ongoing preservation at Fort
McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Please help us keep this vital, primary source of American History preserved and protected by making a donation today. Your investment in Friends of Fort McHenry is an investment in the storied past of one of Baltimore’s most revered historic sites. It is also an investment in the transformational educational experiences that are offered to students and visitors alike.
With your generosity, Friends of Fort McHenry will weather these challenging times and we will continue to serve our community for years to come.
Please join us as a sponsor of this important call-to-action.
We need #AllHandsOnDeck for a brighter future!
Become a Member
Help make history at Fort McHenry
Our members are the best advocates for Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine and make it possible for us to support educational programming to continue to educate all generations about the lasting legacy and promise of the Star-Spangled Banner!
Your membership supports great initiatives such as education programs like Living History, public events like our Crab Feast or Defenders' Day Weekend celebration as well as exhibits and special experiences at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Make a lasting impact. Support the Fort. Please consider joining us today!
If you wish you mail in your membership registration, please email Jesse Miller to request the form.
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND BENEFITS
$40 Individual
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Discounted tickets to special events held by the Friends, including the Star-Spangled Spectacular and Fort McHenry Crab Feast (maximum 2 discounted tickets per event)
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Advance notice of public programs and special events offered by the Friends and/or the National Park Service at Fort McHenry
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$75 Household
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Discounted tickets to special events held by the Friends, including the Star-Spangled Spectacular and Crab Feast (maximum 2 discounted tickets per event)
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Advance notice of public programs and special events offered by the Friends and/or the National Park Service at Fort McHenry
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Free Annual Pass to Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine (allows free admission for 4 people for 1 year)
$125 Contributor
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All Individual Level benefits, plus:
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Either Either Free Annual Pass to Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine (allows free admission for 4 people for 1 year) or 3x5 Commemorative 15-Star Flag
$250 Patron
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All Contributor Level benefits, plus:
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1 ticket to Star-Spangled Spectacular Reception (or a comparable event)
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3x5 Commemorative 15-Star Flag
$500 Steward
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All Patron Level benefits, plus:
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1 additional ticket to Star-Spangled Spectacular Reception (for a total of 2 tickets) (or comparable event)
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Both an Annual Pass and a 3x5 Commemorative 15-Star Flag
$1000 Patriot
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All Steward Level benefits, plus:
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10 additional tickets to Star-Spangled Spectacular Reception (for a total of 2 tickets) (or comparable event)
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A private ranger-talk at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine for up to 20 guests
$2500 Corporate Membership
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Discounted tickets to special events held by the Friends, including the Star-Spangled Spectacular and Crab Feast(maximum 10 discounted tickets per event)
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Advance notice of public programs and special events offered by the Friends and/or the National Park Service at Fort McHenry
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Special recognition as a Corporate Members on the Friends website
Already a Member?
Current Members: Please note your Patron ID number (listed on your receipt if joining online and your Membership Card). You will need to use your Patron ID to purchase discounted tickets.
Is your membership getting ready to expire?
Do we have your most up to date contact information? Update your profile with us by filling out this form:
Donate
Be a defender of history!
By becoming a contributing member of Friends of Fort McHenry, you are helping our mission to preserve and promote Fort McHenry and the legacy of "The Star-Spangled Banner", our National Anthem. Your financial support will enable the Friends to support the implementation of educational programming and living history activities, interpretive activities, exhibits and visitor facilities.
The Friends of Fort McHenry support Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine by raising funds for specific programs and projects, volunteering, and raising public awareness of the Fort and its activities.
By law, national parks cannot solicit donations, although they can accept them. In addition, park officials are prohibited from advocating for legislation or funding from elected officials. As the recognized Friends organization of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the Friends are an important advocate for Fort McHenry, letting our elected officials and others know how important the park is to our nation and state. We are proud to have been instrumental in obtaining the funds and public support necessary for the construction of the Fort's Visitor and Education Center in 2009.
Volunteer
Donate your time and Be a Star for the Fort.
Help the Friends of Fort McHenry support and promote Fort McHenry, birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our National Anthem.
Volunteers play an important part in providing a great experience to visitors young and old! We do not have any volunteer opportunities currently, but if you are interested in helping the Friends with events and membership promotions,please send us your contact information (name, email, cell phone and company/organization name).
Special Event Volunteer Opportunities with the Friends may include:
Membership Promotions
Tattoo Ceremony Receptions
Annual Crab Feast
Defenders' Day Program
Spectacular Reception
Get More Involved!
If you are interested in volunteering with the National Park Service at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, find out more information here.
**Please note that there are no volunteer opportunities at this time due to COVID-19
Sponsor
Share the story of the Defense of
Baltimore and the National Anthem
Help fulfill our goal of having every student in Baltimore City visit Fort McHenry at least once during his or her school career. Since 2012, The Friends of Fort McHenry has made it possible for over 20,000 school children to visit Fort McHenry.
Help enhance our youth job program which provides visitors with interactive living history presentations. Youth initiatives are a priority for both the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort McHenry. Through our Living History Youth Employment Program and in partnership with the National Park Service, we have provided educational programming, resource stewardship and job training opportunities that focus on the development and implementation of youth- oriented living history programing.
Support Fort McHenry Fife & Drum Camp!
Each summer, more than 40 students come together for four days of fun — learning how to march, play an instrument, and experience music history military and civilian life during the War of 1812.
Help support Young Defenders Day!
Each year, 1,500 elementary and middle school students, primarily from Baltimore City, storm the Fort for a day of interactive educational experiences presented by the National Park service, its volunteers, and partner organizations.
