Baltimore — Star-Spangled Banner Mystery
Uncover the hidden codes and secrets behind the Star-Spangled Banner. Follow Francis Scott Key's path from Flag House to Fort McHenry, deciphering clues to reveal a forgotten conspiracy during the 1814 siege.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
September 1814: British forces bombard Baltimore in a desperate bid to crush American resistance during the War of 1812
Baltimore — Star-Spangled Banner Mystery
You are Francis Scott Key, lawyer and diplomat, in Baltimore, September 1814.
You have just witnessed the American flag still waving "by the dawn's early light" after
Discover Baltimore, the city that inspired the American national anthem, from Edgar Allan Poe's gravestones to the ramparts of Fort McHenry.
« By the dawn's early light »— Francis Scott Key, The Star-Spangled Banner, poem composed September 14, 1814, became US national anthem in 1931
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, founded in 1786. At the heart of this Gothic cemetery, built between 1807 and 1852, lies Edgar Allan Poe, whose remains were exhumed and reinterred in 1875. Over 1,400 notable figures, including several signers of the Maryland Declaration of Independence, found their final resting place here. This site serves as a gateway to Baltimore's history, connecting literary figures with the founding fathers of the region. The main building, with its 60-foot-high central tower, prepares you for the historical narratives that punctuate the route.
A short walk away, the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, a small federal-style dwelling built around 1830, reveals the writer's daily life between 1833 and 1835. It was here that Poe wrote several major poems and tales, and where the inspiration for 'The Raven' reportedly took shape. This site, though focused on the author's life, highlights Baltimore's intellectual vibrancy in the 19th century, a period when the city forged a strong cultural identity alongside its military history. The connection to Westminster Hall creates a unique literary journey in Maryland.
The route then leads you to the Washington Monument, the first monument dedicated to George Washington in the United States, erected between 1815 and 1829. Designed by Robert Mills, this 178-foot (54-meter) obelisk dominates Mount Vernon Place, a historic circular square. Its construction immediately after the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore symbolizes national pride and unity after the confrontation with British forces. This monument serves as a reminder of American independence, a central theme of the Battle of Baltimore and the American national anthem.
Continue to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, the historic home of Mary Pickersgill, the seamstress who in 1813 crafted the 30x42-foot flag that inspired the national anthem. This house, built in 1793 and opened as a museum since 1927, is a direct testament to the event. It directly links to the Battle of Baltimore of 1814 and the Inner Harbor, where Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Visiting this site is an immersion into the creation of a national symbol, reinforcing the context of your investigation.
Your exploration culminates at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. This fort, built in 1798 and bombarded by the British on September 13-14, 1814, is where Francis Scott Key composed 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. Administered by the National Park Service since 1925, it celebrates Defenders Day annually. The panoramic view from Federal Hill Park over the Inner Harbor, a deep natural port redeveloped between 1970 and 1980, allows you to grasp the extent of military operations. The Fells Point neighborhood, founded in 1730 with its 1786 market house and colonial homes, completes this historical picture, showing how Baltimore, a city in Maryland, survived and thrived after these decisive events of the Battle of Baltimore.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Poe's Shadow
Delve into the mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe, decipher his symbols, and follow the traces of his life in Baltimore.
The Siege of Fort McHenry
Relive the key moments of the War of 1812 and Baltimore's heroic defense, which inspired the national anthem.
The Fabric of the Nation
Discover the history of the Star-Spangled Banner's creation and its profound symbolism, from Mary Pickersgill to Francis Scott Key.
Unravel the threads of destiny that united a poet and a nation.
Baltimore's past awaits you.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Is this an outdoor escape game in Baltimore, Maryland or a classic scavenger hunt?
Both at once: it's an outdoor escape game — team puzzles, narration, clues, final code — but in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, at your pace. The classic scavenger hunt mechanic plus augmented reality through the camera.
Q02Can we take a break mid-trail?
Of course. Stop at a café, have lunch, resume later: your progress is saved. Many players bake a meal break into the trail, especially with families.
Q03Does Baltimore — Star-Spangled Banner Mystery work for team-building?
Yes — it's actually one of our main use cases. Outdoor escape game format, teams of 4 to 6, live ranking possible between groups. For companies above 12 participants, contact us: we can issue linked codes.
Q04Is Baltimore — Star-Spangled Banner Mystery stroller-accessible?
Depends on the exact route in Baltimore, Maryland. The vast majority of stops are downtown, on sidewalks or squares. If a stair or narrow passage is involved, it's flagged on the product page. Generally: yes, doable with a standard urban stroller.
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Your turn to play
Discover Baltimore, the city that inspired the American national anthem, from Edgar Allan Poe's gravestones to the ramparts of Fort McHenry.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Baltimore, Maryland
See all games in Baltimore, Maryland→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
The Raven's Last Flight — Poe's Final Mystery
Decipher the cryptic clues left behind in Edgar Allan Poe's final haunts to uncover the truth of his mysterious death in Baltimore, October 1849.
Fort McHenry — Key's Secret Code
Uncover the hidden code in Francis Scott Key's poem that reveals a traitor who nearly betrayed Fort McHenry during the 1814 bombardment. Decipher clues across the battleground to expose the culprit.
The Privateer's Cipher — Decode Baltimore's Secret War
Decipher the coded letters of a Baltimore privateer captain to expose a British spy network operating in the harbor during the War of 1812. Uncover the truth before the next ship sets sail.
Fort McHenry — Secret of the Impregnable Fort
Uncover the hidden defense codes that made Fort McHenry impregnable during the 1814 British bombardment. Decipher clues across the historic zone to reveal the secret plan that saved Baltimore.
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