Smithsonian toasts past with flag-inspired drinks (Videos)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner this week with cocktails and a toast to history.

The Food Network’s Simon Majumdar is hosting a gala cocktail party at the museum Friday to celebrate the flag 200 years after the Battle of Baltimore held back a British attack.

The flag that flew over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become the national anthem.

Top mixologists from across the country have developed new cocktails inspired by the flag’s history for the event. They shared their recipes online for the museum’s “Raise a Glass” initiative. Amateur mixologists also created cocktails through an online contest. The museum will announce the winning drink Monday.

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Recipes and Tickets: http://raiseaglass.smithsonianchannel.com/

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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