Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Poet's Neighborhood
Right here in Georgetown, Francis Scott Key and his family lived from about 1805 to 1830. This memorial marks the spot where the author of our national anthem once called home. Ke…
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Right here in Georgetown, Francis Scott Key and his family lived from about 1805 to 1830. This memorial marks the spot where the author of our national anthem once called home. Key wrote the famous poem in 1814, and the park today displays a replica of the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that flew over Fort McHenry during that time.
The site has seen a lot of change; a house once stood here that was eventually dismantled in 1947 to make room for the Whitehurst Freeway. Now, a limestone pergola draped in wisteria and a bronze bust of Key provide a quiet space to reflect on the words that define an American identity.
Updated June 2026