USNA Celebrates the War of 1812

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Country singer Johnny Horton once crooned: “We fired our guns and British kept a’comin’/ There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago/ We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on/ Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.” You may have never heard this tune before, but it speaks to a very significant part of United States history, a part that is often lost in the shuffle of historical days involving time off from school and obligatory cake and fireworks. The War of 1812 came about near the time of the Civil War and happened in the midst of an importation disagreement between the US, France, and England. Here in Annapolis, the United States Naval Academy is remembering this integral point in American history with an art gallery exhibit and tours on the campus. Below, we have more about the war, details about Navy’s commemoration of the war, and even a sneak peak into what you’ll see at the gallery.

By the time the war had started, England and America were separate entities, though the two reluctantly came in closer contact via a goods struggle. Essentially, France and England were fighting over who would get goods from America and thus, England engaged America in a battle over our precious resources. This war was fought on both land and sea, but the Chesapeake Bay played a big role in the war in our area. Navy’s webpage, http://www.usna.edu/War1812/, features much more information about the war.

As you can probably gather from the brief overview above, the Naval Academy
remembers the war everyday by continuing to protect our waters. Of course, USNA educates the public on how it serves in general, but also educates on the War of 1812. There are self-guided tours now through the beginning of November, when the 1812 commemoration informally ends. Visitors can walk through Mahan Hall’s “Seas, Lakes, & Bay: The Naval War of 1812” exhibit to peruse artifacts from the war. At this exhibit, visitors will find historic flags, boat models, pictures, and maritime items, some graciously dedicated by Mr. William I. Koch, and others that belong to Navy. Colleen Roy, Public Affairs Specialist at the Naval Academy, explained the appeal of this exhibit: “Artifacts including an anchor from the USS Constitution, boarding weapons used in the war, and actual carved wooden figureheads are a just a few of the attractions visitors will get to enjoy upon their visit.” Where else are you going to find this stuff?

More touring ensues after perusing the exhibit, taking visitors to the HMS Macedonian Monument, the Joseph Nicholson Home Site (which was also once home to Francis Scott Key) and Bandstand, the HMS Confiance Cannon, and the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. You can’t miss the tour stops; they are marked in the same way. View the following link for a full description of the stops: USNA’s Fact Sheet.

Whether you are a history buff or simply want to revel in the maritime history of this area, Navy’s War of 1812 commemoration is sure to be enjoyed. Follow the links above for more information and contacts.