Mary Pickersgill and the Star-Spangled Banner

Who was Mary Pickersgill?

(a)  

• A professional flagmaker in Baltimore
• A British commander during the War of 1812

• A poet who wrote the national anthem

• A seamstress in New York

What was the size of the flag Mary Pickersgill made for Fort McHenry?

• 42 feet long and 30 feet high

• 30 feet long and 42 feet high

• 50 feet long and 20 feet high

• 20 feet long and 50 feet high

Why did Major George Armistead want a large flag for Fort McHenry?

(a)  

• To ensure the British could see it from a distance
• To use it as a sail for ships

• To cover the entire fort

• To use it as a map

What inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem?

• The end of the War of 1812

• Hearing the British surrender

• Seeing the flag still flying after the bombardment

• A conversation with Mary Pickersgill

Where is the original Star-Spangled Banner flag preserved today?

(a)  

• Smithsonian National Museum of American History
• Fort McHenry

• Baltimore Harbor

• Library of Congress

How long did it take Mary Pickersgill and her team to complete the flag?

(a)  

• Approximately seven weeks
• Three months

• One year

• Two weeks