Legends and lore Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
WBAL-TV (Oct. 30, 2015) reported ghost stories told by park staff, including a warm spot on a wall where a soldier was said to have died, and noted the barracks served as a 3,000-bed hospital in World War I. Source: WBAL-TV.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The fort's defense against the British navy in 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public The National Park Service says Fort McHenry is open year-round except Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1, with last entry at 4:45 pm (NPS). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Baltimore and Maryland
- More haunted & abandoned forts
- Nearby: USS Constellation (Baltimore, MD), Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum (Baltimore, MD), Gettysburg Battlefield (Gettysburg, PA), Jennie Wade House (Gettysburg, PA)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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