Civil War Guardhouse
Fort McHenry has had several guardhouses. This one, built in 1835 and enlarged in 1857, is one of the best preserved buildings in the star fort. Soldiers on duty in this room guarded military offenders in the adjacent cells.
During the Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a transfer point for Confederate prisoners of war, most of whom were kept in buildings and stockades outside the star fort. Hi-security prisoners were locked up here.
In the city, civil rights were suspended at times during the turbulent war years. Citizens suspected of contributing to the rebellion were detained at Fort McHenry. Political prisoners including Baltimore’s mayor, and—ironically—a grandson of Francis Scott Key.
Marker can be reached from Fort Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
