A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America
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Celebrate Independence Day at the Tampa Bay History Center with “A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America,” a Smithsonian Channel documentary exploring the surprising history and secrets behind “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is known by all, treasured for its powerful melody and stirring lyrics. And yet, only about 40% of U.S. citizens know all the words. And even fewer know their meaning. Join us as we travel back to 1814, when Washington D.C. was under British attack during the “Second War of Independence,” and the very bricks and mortar of American democracy were reduced to smoking rubble. We examine the battle that inspired witness Francis Scott Key to immortalize its final moments, then reveal how his poem transformed into an anthem.
Screenings are included with gallery admission and will begin every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4, 2026.
TV-PG / 51 min
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is known by all, treasured for its powerful melody and stirring lyrics. And yet, only about 40% of U.S. citizens know all the words. And even fewer know their meaning. Join us as we travel back to 1814, when Washington D.C. was under British attack during the “Second War of Independence,” and the very bricks and mortar of American democracy were reduced to smoking rubble. We examine the battle that inspired witness Francis Scott Key to immortalize its final moments, then reveal how his poem transformed into an anthem.
Screenings are included with gallery admission and will begin every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4, 2026.
TV-PG / 51 min
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Where is it happening?
801 Water St, Tampa, FL, United States, Florida 33602
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherTampa Bay History Center
