Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Take an adventure in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to discover the history behind the Star-Spangled Banner and the War of 1812.​

For three years, the young United States was embroiled in the War of 1812. Choked by shipping blockades and ravaged by enemy raids, the Chesapeake Bay region felt the brunt of it.

Through sites and landscapes in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail tells the stories of the events, people, and places that led to the birth of our National Anthem.

Dumbarton House is a part of the Star Spangled Geotrail, a geocaching trail that links more than 30 forts, museums, battlefields, ships, parks and preserves, each with its own story to tell about the War of 1812. As a part of the trail, visitors to Dumbarton House may tour the museum and learn about its role in the War of 1812. For stamp collectors of the National Park Service’s Passport book, a stamp is also available.