On American Soil: The 1814 British Invasion of the Chesapeake

When the vanguard of a powerful British fleet entered the Virginia Capes on the morning of Feb. 4, 1813, the last thing likely on the minds of farmers in the fertile Patuxent River valley of Maryland a hundred miles to the north was war. However, within months, the Chesapeake Bay had become a veritable British lake and the Maryland countryside a land of danger and destruction. By the summer of 1814, the capital of the United States had become the destination point of the first major attack on American soil in history.

Follow the invasion and retreat routes of the British Army in the War of 1812 as it landed to conduct a successful attack on the nation’s capital, resulting in the 1814 burning of the Capitol, Washington Navy Yard, and the White House, seeing relevant sites along the way. Hear the story of Dr. William Beanes and his incidental connection to Francis Scott Key. Walk the grounds of pivotal conflicts, including the historic land-sea Battle of St. Leonard Creek—the only fleet engagement in Maryland history—fought between the United States’ Chesapeake Flotilla and the Royal Navy.

During the afternoon, a visit to the Calvert Marine Museum explores the exhibit on the Chesapeake Flotilla. Continue to trace the route of the British Army through Maryland farmlands to the Battle of Bladensburg and learn how a divided nation of "states united" emerged from the War of 1812 to truly become the United States of America. Lunch is at a local restaurant. Maritime historian, author, and archaeologist Donald Grady Shomette leads the tour.

Know Before You Go

• The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
• Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St., SW. No fringe pick-up.

General Information

• Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, August 23, 2024.
• Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
• As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
• For additional tour information:
• Study Tour Policies
• Refund/Cancellation Policy