Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail

The Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail is a unique journey through American history and across the landscapes of the Chesapeake Bay. It follows the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and commemorates the dramatic chain of events, people and places that led to the birth of our national anthem during the War of 1812. Geocaching, pronounced “geo-cashing,” is a worldwide phenomenon in which participants use a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) to locate a hidden “cache.” Searching for a cache is akin to going on a treasure hunt and can involve clues, riddles and visits to multiple locations. A “geotrail” is a series of caches tied together by a common topic or theme. The Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail includes more than 30 diverse sites that are all part of the landscape of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake region. Some hold national prominence, others reflect the all-encompassing nature of the struggle, during which the British raided and burned communities in Maryland, Virginia and even our nation's capital. In addition, the majority of participating locations are also designated Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails, special places that share the story of the Bay and its Rivers. To participate in the adventure, a geocacher must access the official geocache website at www.Geocaching.com. A basic membership is free. For more info visit the the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail's profile on geocaching.com or the Maryland Geocaching Society, at www.mdgps.org