The Star-Spangled Banner: The Making of an American Icon

by Lonn Taylor, Jeffrey Brodie, Kathleen Kendrick

More than just the tale of one flag and one song, The Star-Spangled Banner is the story of how Americans—often in times of crisis—have expressed their patriotism and defined their identity through the "broad stripes and bright stars" of our preeminent national symbol, a tradition that still thrives today. The original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key "by the dawn's early light" has been cared for by the Smithsonian since 1907. The dramatic story of this flag—and of the Smithsonian's effort to save it for posterity—are told here in this lavishly illustrated book that also explores the broader meaning of the flag in American life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Lonn Taylor was an expert on "The Star-Spangled Banner" (both the national anthem and the flag) and Southwestern furniture. He was a curator and historian with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History for nearly twenty years. After retiring in 2002, he returned to his home state of Texas, where he penned a weekly newspaper column about Texas history and other stories about Texas, which he read on Marfa Public Radio. Before his death, he finished a memoir about his childhood years spent in the Philippines.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book because it told the history of both the flag as well as the National Anthem. The history of the flag is compelling and, like many historical documents was poorly cared for at first but who's care has improved and for the past 50 years has been state of the art. This aspect of the book that deals with that is very compelling. The history of the anthem is interesting but could use a bit more elaboration.

Overall this is a decent book and explores a history that is often not touched upon.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of interesting information about our national anthem and the flag that inspired it