Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Joseph Nicholson Home Site and Bandstand
The Naval War of 1812 in Annapolis
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Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013
1. Joseph Nicholson Home Site and Bandstand Marker
In 1814 when Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry," his wife's sister and brother-in-law lived in a house on this site. The poem quickly became famous when it was set to music and re-titled "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Nicholsons preserved an original copy of the poem in their house. After the house was removed to expand the Naval Academy, it was decided to place a bandstand nearby so that the Naval Academy Band could play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the site. This perpetuated the history of the site and its association with the music that officially became the United States national anthem by act of Congress in 1931.
This is the third bandstand on the site and dates from 1922.
Erected by United States Naval Academy. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 58.923′ N, 76° 29.112′ W. Marker was in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It could be reached from
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Central Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: On this spot (here, next to this marker); Zimmerman Bandstand (within shouting distance of this marker); One Hundredth Anniversary of the U.S. Naval Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); Commander William Lewis Herndon (within
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013
2. Joseph Nicholson Home Site and Bandstand Marker & the 1922 Zimmerman Bandstand
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Naval War of 1812 in Annapolis Walking Tour.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 8, 2013
3. "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Library of Congress, 1913
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
4. Joseph Nicholson by Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Menin, 1810
Nicholson urged Key to have the song (The Star Spangled Banner) published. A Baltimore judge, Nicholson served as United States volunteer at Fort McHenry during the battle. Of the action he wrote, "We felt like pigeons tied by the legs and shot at."Photo of a display at the Fort McHenry Vistors Center
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
5. Key's Manuscript of the Star Spangled Banner
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 868 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on July 10, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on July 10, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
