H.R. 6826

H.R. 6826, To designate the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center

STATEMENT OF JOY BEASLEY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CULTURAL RESOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND SCIENCE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL LANDS, CONCERNING H.R. 6826, TO DESIGNATE THE VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER AT FORT MC HENRY NATIONAL MONUMNET AND HISTORIC SHRINE AS PAUL S. SARBANES VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER.

June 27, 2024

Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R. 6826, which would designate the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and National Shrine the “Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center”.

The visitor and education center is located at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland, just outside the fort’s primary historic area, and is accessed from its main entrance on East Fort Avenue. The visitor and education center serves as the first contact station for visitors entering the park and offers an orientation film and exhibits regarding the Battle of Baltimore and the history of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is also one of the key sites on the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.

Senator Sarbanes was a tireless champion of preserving Fort Mc Henry throughout his long career. In so many different ways, he helped to promote the fort’s chief objectives of commemorating the events of the Battle of Baltimore while facilitating public enjoyment and understanding of the historic events and people connected with the site. Over decades, the Senator secured millions of dollars in federal funds to enable critical repairs to the fort’s deteriorating seawall, masonry, and foundations, ensuring the site would be safe to visit for generations to come. He also envisioned Fort McHenry’s inclusion in the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, championing legislation to study and eventually create a National Trail to highlight the British burning of the White House and Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Battle of Baltimore, and the bombing of Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key’s composition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Senator Sarbanes also worked to elevate the history of the War of 1812 in the national consciousness by introducing federal legislation to commemorate the war’s bicentennial. Through his service as Vice-Chair of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission from 2007 to 2015, the Senator helped improve and protect relevant historic sites like Fort McHenry and coordinated public and private events to celebrate the anniversary. Finally, in the 2000s, the Senator was integral in securing the funds that enabled the construction of a new visitor and education center at the fort, replacing the old visitor center from the 1960s with an ADA- compliant building that today welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year as they learn about one of the defining moments in our nation’s history.

H.R. 6826 would designate the visitor and education center at Fort Mc Henry National Monument and National Shrine as the “Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.” The NPS generally discourages the naming of park features except when there is a compelling justification and at least five years have elapsed since the death of the person. However, we recognize that Congress may also specifically authorize the placement of such recognition. In this instance, the Department defers to Congress and does not object to H.R. 6826.

Chairman Tiffany, this concludes my testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions you or other members of the subcommittee may have.