The Battle Monument stands at the centre of Battle Monument Square, an elegant neoclassical column topped by a female figure representing Baltimore holding a laurel wreath. It was completed in 1825 to commemorate the soldiers who died defending Baltimore during the British invasion of 1814 — the same engagement that inspired the national anthem.
It is the first American monument erected to honour soldiers killed in battle, and it remains a working civic symbol — appearing on Baltimore's official seal, which is visible on every city vehicle and document. The square around it is in the old downtown commercial district, surrounded by historic buildings and within easy walking distance of the Inner Harbor.