Visiting Antietam

[Kevin173]

Hey everyone. Thank you for all the welcome greetings!

QUESTION: I'm visiting Antietam/Harpers Ferry the weekend of September 13, 14 and 15th. Is there a place I NEED to visit (Besides the cornfield, Burnside Bridge and Dunker Church)??
I'm actually camping right near the Potomac/Harpers Ferry about ten miles from the Antietam Battlefield.

 

[Lubliner]

Bloody sunken Lane?
Lubliner.

 

[Kurt G]

Antietam is a battle that is fairly easy to follow . Do a ranger tour if possible . You definitely need to see the visitor's center . There is also a nominal fee . I hope you have time to explore Harper's Ferry . The Kennedy farm where John Brown and his men stayed before the Harper's Ferry raid is not far away . Also check out the Pry House , Little Mac's headquarters . It is about 4 or 5 miles from Antietam . The Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg is also worth visiting . The last time I was there I don't think there was a decent place to eat . That was 5 years ago so things may have changed .

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Depending on time, there are 5 good walking trails at Antietam that are worth walking. My two favorites are the Bloody Lane Trail and the Final Attack Trail. I would also recommend visiting Fox's Gap.

 

[Rebforever]

Don't forget the icecream store in Sharpsburg.!!!

 

[Kurt G]

Turner's Gap and Crampton's
Gap are worth a trip as well .

 

[Pollaco]

By all means as others have stated on this thread, visit the Sunken Road/Bloody Lane, its "moving".

 

[Kevin173]

Antietam is a battle that is fairly easy to follow . Do a ranger tour if possible . You definitely need to see the visitor's center . There is also a nominal fee . I hope you have time to explore Harper's Ferry . The Kennedy farm where John Brown and his men stayed before the Harper's Ferry raid is not far away . Also check out the Pry House , Little Mac's headquarters . It is about 4 or 5 miles from Antietam . The Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg is also worth visiting . The last time I was there I don't think there was a decent place to eat . That was 5 years ago so things may have changed .

Thank you. Definitely interested in the Kennedy farm and the National Cemetery!

 

[Stone in the wall]

Ride down the Harpers Ferry Road and check out Hillsboro Va. You will pass Loudon Heights, 2 civil war churches and Hillsboro has many pre civil war buildings. Don't forget Benders Tavern in Sharpsburg.

 

[AnnaLee]

Out of all the civil war places in Virginia that I have visited, Antietam remains my favorite. I try to visit twice a year. My husband and I like to stroll along the Antietam bridge/river early in the morning while drinking our coffee. Usually, we are the only ones there and you get a different perspective alone than with a group of people.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Out of all the civil war places in Virginia that I have visited, Antietam remains my favorite. I try to visit twice a year. My husband and I like to stroll along the Antietam bridge/river early in the morning while drinking our coffee. Usually, we are the only ones there and you get a different perspective alone than with a group of people.

I 'm up early myself, first cup of coffee is always the best. Very few cars are on the roads around here early morning on weekends. So I go where ever as early as I can, before all the city people wake up. On the East end of Hillsboro there's a farmers market that also sells really good food and "Blackdog Coffee". I still have to check out Battle Grounds coffee shop in Harpers Ferry.

 

[Blackpowder1863]

Check out the South Mountain Battlefield not far from there.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Do you enjoy canoeing? Antietam Creek is great for an easy paddle from the upper bridge, through the battlefield and out to the Potomac. There are at least two canoe liverys that I know of, plus kayaks.

 

[Pollaco]

Out of all the civil war places in Virginia that I have visited, Antietam remains my favorite. I try to visit twice a year. My husband and I like to stroll along the Antietam bridge/river early in the morning while drinking our coffee. Usually, we are the only ones there and you get a different perspective alone than with a group of people.

I frequently question my memory, but now I'm really scratching my head. Antietam is in Maryland isn't it?

 

[AnnaLee]

I frequently question my memory, but now I'm really scratching my head. Antietam is in Maryland isn't it?

Yes. Sorry for the error.

 

[Rebforever]

Yes. Sorry for the error.

Wasn't an error. I new what you meant.

 

[Pollaco]

Wasn't an error. I new what you meant.

Likewise, I was questioning MY memory.

 

[Kevin173]

What a great four days camping. Stayed at a place near Harpers Ferry. Visited Harpers Ferry, Millers Farm, (which was walking distance from the camp site) South Mountain, Turners Gap, Antietam (infantry unit and artillery unit displays), Monocacy and the National Cemetery. As we left on Sunday, drove up to Gettysburg to close out the trip. It was great. The cornfield was ........moving. An eerie silence as soon as you placed a foot in the cornfield. They just completed a nice stone path down to Burnside Bridge as well.

 

[Nathanb1]

Nice photos! I really think the time I spent at Antietam (and the ice cream shop in Sharpsburg, @Rebforever!) and Harpers Ferry were my favorite ever on a battlefield...well, favorite ever anywhere!

 

[J. D. Stevens]

What a great four days camping

Very nice pictures. It appears you visited when some reenactors were camping &etc. They always make a visit a little more pleasant. Most are also excellent sources of information and usually willing to share stories they have. Although not CW related, several years ago when visiting Valley Forge, there were several British redcoats camping near the home where Washington stayed. Talking with some of them revealed information we don't read in the history books about the war from the common British soldier's point of view in the Revolution.