Many visitors to the Fort wonder why there is a statue of Orpheus, the Greek mythological hero of music and poetry, at the park. This classical monument is dedicated to Francis Scott Key and the soldiers and sailors who took part in the Battle of North Point and the defense of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

Oct 10, 2024 · In 1962, Orpheus was relocated to the present site. The monument consists of a 15-foot high circular base made of white marble. Decorated with a frieze in low relief, the base is surmounted by a 24-foot high figure of Orpheus in bronze, shown playing a …

Orpheus with the Awkward Foot (also simply known as Orpheus or the Francis Scott Key Monument) is a monumental statue located at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

As an archetype of the inspired singer, Orpheus is one of the most significant figures in the reception of classical mythology in Western culture, portrayed or alluded to in countless forms of art and popular culture including poetry, film, opera, music, and painting. [8]

One of the most striking monuments related to the Battle of Baltimore is the nearly forty-foot tall statue of the Greek god Orpheus greeting visitors to Fort McHenry since 1922. Dedicated to Francis Scott Key as well as the Old Defenders, the sculpture takes a more allegorical approach than monuments to others involved in the Battle of Baltimore.

Jan 9, 2024 · The statue of “Orpheus with the Awkward Foot” is the most unusual monument within the U.S. National Park Service, standing out as a celebrated oddity of commemorative statuary on a battlefield landscape. The statue sparked controversy both before and long after it arrived at the Fort in 1922.

Oct 13, 2012 · For many years the Orpheus statue has served as the centerpiece for the annual commemoration of the Battle of Baltimore. Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Topics.

Nov 6, 2006 · The statue represents Orpheus, the artful poet, musician, and singer of Greek Mythology. In 1914 Congress appropriated funds for a monument at Fort McHenry to mark the centennial of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the defense of Baltimore.

Orpheus – Hero of Music and Poetry at Fort McHenry. The descriptive placard provides a bit of the history of this Orpheus Statue.

The following brief report concerning the statue of Orpheus erected at Port Mdllenry as memorial to Francis Scott Key and the Citizen Soldiers who fought at North Point and Port McHenry is not intended to do more