and fort mchenry is named for james mchenry. he was the secretary of war at the time fort mchenry was being built. >> we are standing on the parade ground. this grassy area is where troops would muster for various ceremonies, such as inspection, morning parade, and whatnot. around us are the barracks. they would have been -- back in 1814, they would have been one story. the second story was added in 1829. the fort as you see it now, in general, looks more like it would have done in the civil war. >> the american general in charge of the fort wanted to show the british that we weren't afraid. so, he sent word here, to the home of mary pickersgill. mary was a well-known flag maker. so, mary, what did the general ask you to do? >> why, he asked me to make a flag that was so large, the british would have no trouble seeing it from a distance. it was 30'x42'. each stripe was 2' wide, and every star was 2' from tip to tip. >> wow! that sounds really big. >> it was very large -- the largest flag to ever fly from a flagpole, as i understa