"Defence of Fort McHenry"
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Original manuscript of "Defence of Fort McHenry"

"Defence of Fort McHenry" was the original title of Francis Scott Key's poem.

The poem's title changed in October of 1814 when a Baltimore actor performed the song in public and called it "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The copy remained in the Nicholson family for 93 years. In 1907, it was sold to Henry Walters of Baltimore. In 1934, it was bought at auction by the Walters Art Gallery for $26,400. The Walters Gallery sold the manuscript in 1953 to the Maryland Historical Society for the same price. Another copy is in the Library of Congress.