Statement of Significance (as of designation - December 16, 1969):
In this 2-1/2 brick corner row house, Mary Young Pickersgill (1776-1857) designed and fabricated the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British attack in 1814. Inspired by the sight of this "Star-Spangled Banner" as she withstood heavy bombardment by the enemy, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that later became the national anthem of the United States. Mrs. Pickersgill's flag is now in the Smithsonian Institution.

Condition:
The house suffers from serious water penetration problems, caused mainly by the ill-advised sandblasting of the exterior brick walls in the 1950s.

The Landmark received a Save America's Treasures matching grant of $200,000 in 2002 to address the water penetration problems. Conditions remain essentially the same in 2004 as they were in 2002. The Save America’s Treasures Project was to begin in Spring, 2004. A budget of $101,000 has been formulated to cover all the major work necessary to alleviate the current deterioration. This work includes capping the west parapet wall, replacing the slate roof with a new cedar shingle roof, repairing soffit and decking, repairing chimney masonry, capping the north chimney, repairing third floor windows, replacing the front door, replacing the gutters and downspouts, regrading the sidewalk and moisture proofing a portion of the foundation, installing a new heat pump in the basement and replacing and repainting some of the interior plaster.