Above: Riversdale House Museum – Riverdale Park . Below: The U.S. Capitol, as seen circa 1800 – Washington, D.C. impressive, federal-style mansion a couple of miles upriver from the battlefield, in an area now known as Riverdale Park. She claimed that, from her bedroom window, she could observe “several cannonballs” being fired. Calvert’s husband and slaves helped to bury the dead following the battle. Today, the Riversdale House Museum [8] interprets the site’s War of 1812 history. In addition, a Battle of Bladensburg encampment and re-enactment is held here each August. The British marched unmolested the rest of the way into Washington, intent on claiming their prize. The federal city wasn’t just the seat of government in those days; it also contained important military resources, including the Washington Navy Yard, the U.S. Marine Barracks and an arsenal. The U.S. Capitol [9] , standing at the crest of what had been known as Jenkins Hill, was still a work in progress when war broke out. Its south wing, reserved for the House of Representatives, had just been completed in 1811. Now, it faced British torches and rockets. Before long, a fire 24 | nps.gov/stsp LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION
Star-Spangled Banner Star-Spangled Banner 2018: Page 24
