As I understood from one of the tour guides, Fort McHenry is sometimes mistaken for the Canadian Fort Henry. How curious! Now that I've been to both,  I can now compare them and there are some similarities and differences. I feel a class assignment coming on.

So after an hour or so train ride, I navigated my way to the city of Baltimore in order to visit another fort on my exploration of History.  Similarity no. 1;  My main interest in this site is that Fort McHenry is a major player in the War of 1812, just like Fort Henry. Similarity no. 2:  They are also the same in that like  all forts they have a garrison, officer's quarters, lots of cannons, powder magazine... I've been to so many forts now, I almost know where I'm going. It's quite comforting actually. Similarity no. 3: Both forts were vital to the protection of an important waterway, Fort Henry  the connection between Kingston and the West, for Fort McHenry a huge harbour of ships, dockyards and much coveted supplies.  On to the differences.

Difference no. 1: Obviously these two forts are on two different sides of the border! That's easy. Difference no. 2: Notoriety.  I believe that more American's are  more familiar with Fort McHenry due to the fact that it is tied to the national anthem. Francis Scott Key witnessed the battle from a truce ship on September 13th - 14th, and penned the "Star Spangled Banner" in the patriotic thrill of victory when the British were unable to defeat this fort. Unfortunately, I don't think many Canadians even know where Fort Henry is. Difference no. 3: Decisiveness.  The battle in 1814 between British and American forces at Fort McHenry was a turning point in the war, but Fort Henry had no such distinguishing battle.

Similarities and differences aside, both forts still provide Canadians and Americans alike an opportunity to study this war and its impact on our histories.  As well, I did notice a pattern coming to this fort...the number 13 is truly unlucky. Battle of the Plains of Abraham - Sept. 13th, Isaacs Brocks death - Oct. 13th, Battle at Fort McHenry - Sept. 13th - 14th. Seriously! That is too strange. I wonder if I can find some other crazy happenings on that date.

After the fort I returned to the Inner Harbour of Baltimore and toured the USS Constitution. What an amazing ship. It was built in 1854 and was a flag ship who's role was to intercept ships involved in the illegal slave trade and had a role in the American Civil War. It is perfectly preserved and you can scour all 4 decks. My favourite part of the ship was the captain's quarters. It has its own bath tub, toilet, private kitchen and a much better bed than all the hammocks that the poor sailors had to sleep in. Boys as young as 11 or 12 were allow to become part of the crew and were called "Powder Monkeys" because they were responsible to run quickly from the ships hold to the cannons to bring bags of gun powder amongst other jobs. Could you imagine a 12 year old boy that you know living on a ship for 3 years living with rough and tumble sailors and climbing to the top of the mast every morning to stay in shape? Wow. History does help us how capable the human spirit really is.