Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

10/13/2026

Happy birthday to the United States Naval Academy (October 10, 1845) and the U.S. Navy (October 13, 1775) 🎂

Throughout the , the navy fought enemy ships on the Great Lakes and high seas, manned gunboats protecting harbors and rivers, and aided coastal defense. The navy’s role in national security was forged during this conflict. The slogan “Don’t Give Up the Ship” adorned a flag flown as a battle signal by victorious Americans in 1813 and is still a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy.

The flag is now part of the collection of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, MD. The grounds of the Naval Academy also have a story related to the conflict--Fort Severn, with twelve guns mounted on its circular 14-foot-high stone wall to help secure the Severn River and protect the city of Annapolis, was located there.

Learn more about the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/naval-engagements-war-1812

Naval History & Heritage Command

📸 Photograph of an old flag featuring the words "Don't Give up the Ship." credit: United States Naval Academy/Becker

10/10/2026

Places along the are a perfect place to pause, reflect, and to take a breath.



📸 National Park Service

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

The “Gin Riots” took place at what is now Patterson Park in Baltimore, MD on October 4, 1808. These events were more rallies than riots. Some 1,300 horsemen, 400 sailors, and thousands of civilians paraded to Hampstead Hill to destroy 720 gallons of Dutch gin.

The British, intercepting Baltimore-based SOPHIA at sea, demanded a tax on each gallon of the gin. When SOPHIA returned home, citizens—angered that the “infamous tribute” had been paid—ordered the cargo “condemned to flames” in protest.

The SOPHIA episode was just one of numerous times the British stopped American merchant ships— sometimes forcing crewmen into the Royal Navy. Many unlucky ships and sailors hailed from Baltimore. This practice of “impressment,” forcing American sailors into the British navy, was one of the causes of the . Situations like this is where "Free Trade and Sailors Rights" comes from.

[image: illustration of a crowd of people standing around a large bonfire; caption: With great ceremony, fired consumed the barrels of gin hanging from makeshift gallows on Hampstead Hill. Illustration/ © Gerry Embleton; In Full Glory Reflected]

Friends of Patterson Park

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

09/29/2026

Happy ! A little coffeehouse history for you to get that caffeine jolt flowing.

Coffee houses of the 17th and 18th centuries were often the center of the business world. It was at these establishments that merchants and brokers learned the business news of the day, particularly about shipping and marine insurance rates. The most prominent of the coffee houses in Great Britain by the beginning of the War of 1812 was Lloyd’s Coffee House in London.
During the late summer and early autumn of 1814, the clipper ship CHASSEUR, a Baltimore privateer, captained by Thomas Boyle was creating havoc around the British Isles. During a three-month cruise, Boyle and his crew captured 18 British merchant ships.

It was during this time that Boyle sent a British prisoner ashore with a proclamation. The prisoner had been instructed to post Boyle’s proclamation at Lloyd’s Coffee House. The proclamation announced that Boyle was enforcing a one ship blockade against all the ports, rivers, streams, creeks, and inlets of Great Britain.

Boyle’s boldness to blockade Britain sent the country into an uproar. Insurance rates rose dramatically. Merchants, afraid of their products being seized by Boyle or other American privateers, stopped shipping their products.

With rising prices and increases in taxes came more fervent calls for the British government to end the war with the United States.

Upon returning to Baltimore after this journey, the CHASSEUR, was deemed the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE. Today, Pride of Baltimore II is Maryland’s modern-day ambassador on the seas, and the crew offers tours and educational programs.

📸
1) Thomas Boyle's Chasseur, a privateer vessel, sails past Fort McHenry; Copyright Patrick O'Brien.
2) Boyle's proclamation stating the blockade of the British Isles; Maryland Center for History and Culture.

09/22/2026

Ah, Autumn! The season where every leaf tells us, "Orange you glad I didn’t just vanish?" 🍂

Happy first day of fall from all the beautiful and colorful places you can visit along the 🍁

📸 Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum during peak fall foliage. NPS

09/21/2026

The officially ended on February 17, 1815, after nearly six months of peace negotiations in the city of Ghent, in today’s Belgium. The initial terms of peace were drafted in just 10 days, but it wasn’t until December 24, 1814, that negotiators for both sides agreed to the terms. The Treaty of Ghent, formally titled “A Treaty of Peace and Amity between His Majesty and the United States of America,” was the last peace treaty between the two nations. Gradually, the two English-speaking countries found common interests and became close allies, as they are today.



📸 Peace delegations headed by John Quincy Adams (right) and Lord Gambier (left) finally shook hands over terms of agreement on December 24, 1814. The Treaty of Ghent was also known as the Peace of Christmas Eve treaty; credit: Library and Archives Canada.

09/19/2026

In honor of , we want to highlight the role of --some may say legalized pirates-- during the .

Throughout the war, privateers augmented the small U.S. Navy. They were sailors and private ships authorized by the federal government to harass, damage, and capture British merchant ships. Privateers were also authorized to sell the captured vessels and cargo for profit.

When the British blockaded the Chesapeake Bay, American warships were trapped, but lower-profile boats could sometimes get past the blockade. Privateer ships were fast, agile schooners, designed for speed under sail. They were built at Fells Point (Baltimore, Maryland) and other Chesapeake Bay shipyards. The U.S. government issued 1,100 commissions to privateers between 1812 and 1815. These self-styled marauders cruised the high seas looking for British merchants to pillage. Privateers did major damage to Great Britain’s sea trade and threatened that country’s economy.



📸 Baltimore’s famous privateer ship, the CHASSEUR, known as the “Pride of Baltimore,” was memorialized with the near replica PRIDE OF BALTIMORE. Today, Pride of Baltimore II is Maryland’s modern-day ambassador on the seas, and the crew offers tours and educational programs. Photo courtesy of Jason Kopp.

Baltimore National Heritage Area
Fells Point
The Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill & Fell's Point

09/17/2026

Ezekiel Loney successfully was able to seek his freedom during the

He went to the British and become a Colonial Marine. He trained at Tangier Island and fought in battles around Washington D.C. and Baltimore in the fall of 1814. Loney was eventually promoted to rank sergeant of the 4th Company.

After the war, nearly 700 formerly enslaved African Americans were resettled in Trinidad, including Loney. The descendent community refers to themselves as "Merikins," a term derived from "American" that recognizes and honors both the community's historical and cultural connections to the United States and the legacy of their self-emancipating ancestors.

There are so many amazing stories about people taking the risk to seek their freedom, Ezekiel Loney is just one of many. More stories are being discovered.

To learn more: https://www.nps.gov/people/ezekiel-loney.htm



National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

📸
1) The image is an illustration of Colonial Marines drill at Fort Albion on Tangier Island, VA. (c) Gerry Embleton from "In Full Glory Reflected"
2) Ezekiel Loney in the muster roll for the HMS Albion transferring from the HMS Narcissus.
(HMS Albion ADM 37/5005); 7100 (CO 295/59 - 3rd Company Village in Trinidad)

09/14/2026

At "dawn's early light," the British bombardment of Fort McHenry ceased.

Three Americans aboard a truce ship strained to see the Fort. They had been watching the from the Patapsco River, where they were anchored with the British fleet. Lawyers John Stuart Skinner and Francis Scott Key had negotiated the release of Dr. William Beanes, who was captured by the British following an incident in Upper Marlboro. Their business was finished, but the Americans were not allowed to leave the fleet until after the attack on Baltimore was over, lest they reveal British plans.

In the eerie silence that followed the 25-hour bombardment, they glimpsed the huge 30x42-foot American flag flying over the fort, signaling that Fort McHenry had held. With great relief they watched as enemy ships withdrew.

The sight of the flag inspired Key to write the words that would become the U.S. national anthem.

Thank you to everyone that came out and celebrated Defenders' Day with us!



📸 illustration of two men and a boy onboard a ship, looking at a flag flying in the distance; caption: “By Dawn’s Early Light,” a 1912 romanticized painting by Percy Moran, depicts Francis Scott Key observing the American flag flying over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, signaling that the Americans had withstood the British attack. credit: Library of Congress

Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
Friends of Fort McHenry
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House

09/13/2026

British ships began a 25-hour bombardment on Fort McHenry, September 13, 1814.

The fort defended the water approach to the city of Baltimore and the future of the city, and possibly the United States, depended on the outcome. After the American defeat at Bladensburg, and the British capture and partial burning of Washington, D.C., a loss here would be devastating.

Join us today at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine as we close out our celebration of the Defense of Baltimore against the attack from the British during the

To learn more: go.nps.gov/DefendersDay



📸 illustration of vessels bombarding Fort McHenry from the Patapsco River at night; credit: Peter Rindlisbacher