Stone memorial with a bronze bas-relief of three military officers

Sculptor Joanna C. Blake’s Battle of Bladensburg Memorial depicts the wounded American Commodore Joshua Barney being assisted by Charles Ball, a former slave who served in his flotilla, and an unnamed Marine.

Robert James

Bladensburg Battlefield

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

A major battle in the War of 1812, the Battle of Bladensburg was a disastrous defeat for the United States that led to the burning of Washington, including the White House and the Capitol Building. Though much of the original land has been developed, a portion of the battlefield has been preserved under the Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation. At the Visitor's Center, guests can learn about the battle, see artifacts left from the British encampment, and hear the stories of the people who fought there. Check out the park website for further information about upcoming programs and events.

Bladensburg Battlefield: What's Nearby

Bladensburg, MD
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
Washington, DC
National Museum of the U.S. Navy
Washington, DC
African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
Washington, DC
U.S. Navy Museum
Washington, DC

Preservation

The American Battlefield Trust and our members would like to save land at Bladensburg Battlefield.

View All Saved Land

Related Battles

Maryland | August 24, 1814
Result: United Kingdom Victory
Estimated Casualties
450
United States
200
United Kingdom
250