Fort McHenry at Baltimore MD is the location of the battle in the War of 1812 where Francis Scott Key wrote our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.Francis Scott Key sculpture with the US flag in 1814.Every morning at 10 AM, the rangers have a ceremony to raise the flag at the historic fort. On the morning we were there they raised a very large flag. There is a much larger flag that is raised on days when the winds are not too strong.Audience patriciates in raising the flag.Entry gate.Historic buildings in the fort.Captain’s quarters.General George Armstead was the commander at Fort McHenry.The magazine.
Historic Charleston City Market, dates from 1788-1804.The market after hours.Meeting StreetPineapple FountainPineapple Fountain at night.Rainbow RowSt. Philip Church, oldest congregation in Charleston, dates to 1838.St. Michael’s ChurchSt. Michael’s Church Cemetery, which contains the graves of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and John Rutlege, signers of the US Constitution.Judge Nicholas Trott House, dates to 1709.Heyward-Washington House, built 1772United States Custom HouseSago Palm seed.The BatteryEdmonston-Alston House, 1825The architecture on East Battery is colorful and has a style similar to Savannah and New Orleans.
So on a beautiful Sunday afternoon we had a reservation for a sail on Charleston Harbor.Raising the main sail.Calm sea, beautiful warm day!We were the only customers the captain had for this sail, so this was a private sail, which would normally cost a couple thousand dollars, but for us, just 2 regular price sailing tickets – $60 each!The crew.The captain.
Patriots Point is a museum across from Charleston Harbor, the centerpiece is the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.Front of the Yorktown.Rear of the Yorktown.So we got to the deck of the Yorktown…At the end of the runway, looking back at the control tower.Looking at the end of the runway.Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Route 17 connecting Charleston and Mount Pleasant SC.Cool chart showing the action the Yorktown saw during World War II.Key to the chart.USS Laffey, World War II destroyerThe submarine USS Clamagore.Yorktown’s bakeryKitchen breakfast serving lineDinner serving line.Admiral Sea Cabin – containing a bunk, desk, toilet, shower and wash room.Machine ShopRadar RoomCotsCaptain’s BridgeShip’s bell1938 Packard Staff Car, used by senior military officers.F4U Corsair. My dad was a mechanic on these planes during World War II.A6-E IntruderA-7E Corsair IIF-14A TomcatRear of the F-14A TomcatF/A-18A HornetA-4C SkyhawkS-3B Viking, and there are many other aircraft on display on this deck and below.
