After an extensive rehab project, the visitor center reopened in Sept. 2023. Due to unforeseen water leaks and humidity issues, all the historic artifacts have been taken off exhibit to protect them until these issues have been resolved.

Artifacts Removed From Museum

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Personal Vehicle/Family: $20.00 for three days

Entrance - Private Vehicle

Individual: $10.00 for three days. This fee admits one individual in a vehicle and also includes hikers, bicyclists or pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge.

Entrance - Per Person

Motorcycle: $15.00 This fee admits one individual on a private, non-commercial motorcycle for three days.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$100 Motor Coach/Commercial Tour Groups with 26 or more people

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

$25 per passenger bus/sedan with 1-6 people

Commercial Entrance - Sedan

To request an Academic Fee Waiver for your group, click on the link for further details.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups

If you or your family visit the battlefield more than once a year, this pass is for you. Valid for one year from month of purchase for Antietam National Battlefield only. Admits pass holder and passengers in a single private vehicle.

Annual Entrance - Park

Monument at Sunset

three arch stone bridge over Antietam Creek

Burnside Bridge

Cannon the Field

a monument of a soldier in the background with graves in front of the monument

Antietam National Cemetery

Dunker Church

fog filling in the low areas of the field at sunset

Fog Over the Battlefield

stone building with black fence in foreground

Antietam National Cemetery Lodge Building

small white building with cannon in the foreground

dark clouds with tree and obelisk monument

14th Connecticut Monument

wood fence rails with green corn stalks behind fence

The Cornfield

Antietam

The visitor center is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

New Year's Day

Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

This is a short hike that is uphill. A couple of cannon and benches to sit and take in the few await at the top of the hill. A view of the Antietam National Cemetery and the Town of Sharpsburg, provides visitors the same view Union troops had looking over toward the Confederate position on Sept. 17, 1862.  The trail is 1/2 mile roundtrip.

Not a trail for strollers. It is a grass/dirt trail. Ages 8 and up. 

black and white photo of a stone bridge over a creek

middle bridge

The house/trail head is located about one mile east of Sharpsburg, MD on MD Rt. 34.

“No other equal area on the American continent has been so drenched in human blood.” Capt. John C. Tidball, Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery Introduction This .3-mile uphill trail (one way) will take you to the position of Battery A, 2nd United States Artillery, commanded by Capt. John C. Tidball. Tidball and his battery of six 3-in. ordnance rifles were part of an advance made by Union infantry, cavalry, and artillery over the Middle Bridge. His position is one of the best views found anywhere on the battlefield. Tidball's advance was part of a general advance made by the 5th Corps, commanded by Gen. Fitz John Porter. At about 4:00 p.m., Union cavalry, artillery and United States regular infantry had pushed to the edge of Sharpsburg. These troops connected the 2nd Corps to the north with the 9th Corps to the south. General Lee responded by moving more artillery to the high ground where the National Cemetery is today. Some of these guns had fought in the early morning action around the Dunker Church. It was at the peak of this advance when Confederate General A.P. Hill and his division arrived from Harpers Ferry and struck the left flank of the 9th Corps, which in turn exposed the left flank of the 5th, which pulled back. There were over 600 casualties in the fighting here at the Middle Bridge, about the same number as there were at the Burnside Bridge. Tidball reported that at around 10:00 a.m. "I was ordered to cross the turnpike bridge over the Antietam where I took position on the right of the road. In front the enemy's Sharpshooters were posted and there being no infantry at hand to drive them back, I opened fire upon them with Canister, and gradually worked my guns by hand up a steep ploughed field to the crest of the hill where I placed them in a commanding position not only for the enemy directly in front, but for an enfilading fire in front of Sumner's Corps on the right and that of Burnside on the left of me. The enemy's batteries all the while were very active, but with some exception his practice was bad....On the 17th I had one private--Hitz killed, and one severely and two slightly wounded and 10 horses killed. I fired in all about 1,200 rounds." John C. Tidball, U. S. Army Tidball was born in what is today West Virginia in 1825. He graduated from West Point in 1848 and served in the Seminole War as an artillery officer. His battery was in Charles Town for the hanging of John Brown, and it was in Washington for Lincoln’s First Inauguration. During the Civil War he fought in every major battle in the east and was breveted (honorary promotion) five times for gallant and meritorious service on the battlefield, reaching the rank of Major General of volunteers. Including his time as a student at West Point, Tidball's career spanned forty-five years with service in nine states, including a time as the military commander of the District of Alaska. He was the Commandant of Cadets at West Point, Superintendent of Artillery Instruction at Fort Monroe, and wrote the Army's Manual for Heavy Artillery. Col. James H. Childs, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry Across the road on the North side of the Boonsboro Turnpike, Col. James H. Childs of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry was in temporary command of Averell’s Brigade at Antietam. He was leading the brigade across the Middle Bridge onto the Newcomer Farm when he was struck in the hip by an artillery round that killed two soldiers and four horses. After his wounding, Col. Childs continued tending to his military duties, then sent a message to the surgeons that “if not attending to any one whose life could be saved, to come to him, as he was in great pain.” He died less than an hour later leaving a widow and three children home in Pittsburgh. There is a monument to Col. Childs across Rt. 34 from the Newcomer house.

Pets must be on a leash and owner have to clean up after their pet.

A short walk/hike that is about 1/2 mile roundtrip.

Take a short hike on the Tidball Trail

Military

Artillery

Battlefields

Infantry and Militia

US Army

Scenic Views

Trails

Wars and Conflicts

Civil War

This is a good activity for the family. The walk is paved and is a nice way to stretch your legs upon arriving at Antietam. 

Included as part of the park entrance fee.

flowering tree with cannon and white building in the background

dunker church

What is a Battlefield Park? How does a nation commemorate and remember the sacrifices and events that created it? During this walk you will discover how veterans, the military, citizens, and the National Park Service created and preserved the tangible reminders of the Battle of Antietam for over 140 years. The paved, quarter-mile trail starts and ends at the Visitor Center. It will take you past some significant landmarks and monuments that help tell the story of the battle and the evolution of this National Park. Use the walking tour map above for your route and stops. Walk Description and Interpretation Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center The visitor center was built in 1962 for a cost of $202,930. At the time of the construction, America was is the midst of the “Cold War.” Over $40,000 of the construction costs went to build a solid concrete fallout shelter in the basement of the building in case of nuclear attack. Colonel S.D. Lee's Artillery Battalion Confederate Col. Stephen Lee held this position with about nineteen guns. After three desperate hours, Lee’s guns were finally driven from this position by long- range artillery fire from across Antietam Creek (one mile to the east) and by a series of Union attacks during the morning hours of the battle. Four types of Civil War cannons representing Colonel Lee’s position are on display. Continue on the paved walkway, towards the Hagerstown Turnpike and the Dunker Church. The Dunker Church This church, built by the pacifist German Baptist Brethren was the center of fighting in the early hours of the battle. Known as the Dunkers, they built their church using architecture that reflected a simple way of life. The building sustained heavy damage that day, but remained standing. A severe storm destroyed the Dunker Church in 1921, but a local Sharpsburg man, Elmer Boyer, saved many pieces of the destroyed building. The Washington County Historical Society, the State of Maryland, and the National Park Service used these materials to help rebuild the church in the 1960’s. Directions: Please cross back over the road and walk up the sidewalk to the large monument with the green dome. The Maryland Monument This monument is the only monument on the battlefield dedicated to the men who fought for both sides. During the Civil War,Maryland remained in the Union, but was a politically divided, slave-holding border state. Marylanders fought for both the Union and the Confederacy. Approximately 20,000 people attended the dedication on May 30, 1900. President William McKinley, also a veteran of the Battle of Antietam, was the keynote speaker. New York State Monument Costing $30,000, this monument was dedicated September 17, 1920. Over 250 Civil War veterans attended the dedication. The land you are standing on, 7.01 acres, was purchased by the State of New York for the monument in 1907 for $1,402 or about$200 an acre. The monument cost more than 20 times the price of the land upon which it was built. 20th New York Monument At about 1 p.m., the 20th New York Infantry charged the Confederates lined along the Hagerstown Turnpike. They drove the Southerners into the West Woods until they were abreast of the Dunker Church, the possession of which had been so fiercely contested throughout the day. They were unable to hold the ground gained and had to fall back. The regiment suffered 145 casualties, some of whom are buried in the National Cemetery. Their veteran's association errected this monument in 1912.  Conclusion The greatest success story in the preservation of the battlefield is the acquisition of the land where the battle took place. When the War Department transferred the battlefield to the National Park Service in 1933 it was only about 65 acres. Even as late as 1980 the battlefield was less than 600 acres. Over 60% of the battlefield has been purchased since 1990! Owning the land makes all of the other restoration efforts possible. Today over 3,000 acres are preserved for this and future generations. As you have seen from your walk, there are many ways to honor and remember the tragic and momentous events that occurred here. Placing cannons, restoring buildings, building monuments, even creating this battlefield, are all designed so that we never forget the tremendous sacrifice of those that walked this field before. You have also helped keep the memory of blue and gray alive by taking the time to walk this field and remember Antietam.

Pets are allowed on leash and owners must clean up after their pet. Remember that pets are not allowed inside the visitor center or Dunker Church.

A 1/4 mile walk around the area adjacent to the park visitor center that explores connected subjects to the battle.

Take a Short Walk on the Antietam Remembered Trail

Monuments and Memorials

Museum Exhibits

The Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center <a href="https://www.nps.gov/anti/learn/historyculture/mission-66.htm">opened to the public in the winter of 1963.</a> Later this year the park will close the visitor center for a much needed rehabilitation. We expect to close late summer/early fall of 2020. The project is expected to last from 18 months to two years. During the construction there will be a temporary visitor center installed. The temporary visitor center will have a small exhibit area, visitor information/fee collection area, bookstore, and restrooms.

Antietam Battlefield Visitor Center

Located ten miles south off I-70 on MD Rt. 65. The visitor center is one mile north of the town of Sharpsburg, MD.

The first place to go when you visit Antietam National Battlefield is the visitor center. You will find exhibits, a short film, bookstore, and most importanly you can get a map and speak with a ranger who can answers questions and provide information on the best way to see the field. 

While pets are allowed on the grounds, they must be on a leash and the owner has to clean up after their pet. Pets are NOT allowed inside the visitor center, inside the Mumma or National Cemetery, or inside the Dunker Church. 

The should be the first stop for every visitor to Antietam. Rangers and volunteers provide maps and information to help you get off on the right path for your visit.

Visit Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center

Schools and Education

Hiking

<h4>The Confederate Defense</h4> It was Confederate Gen. D.R. Jones's division who defended the right flank of Lee's line. Here, the Confederates had the terrain advantage, however, they were terribly outnumbered. Jones’s Division numbered about 3,300, Burnside had available close to 12,000. The bridge crossing itself was secured by Gen. Robert Toombs small brigade of about 500 soldiers. Toombs placed the 2nd and 20th Georgia Infantry at the bridge. The rest of his small command spread out along the hill sides up and down stream where they poured their fire into Burnside’s men as they approached the bridge. Directions: Walk across the Burnside Bridge and turn left (north) and follow the trail along the stone wall to Stop 1. <h4>Stop 1 - Union Plan of Attack</h4> At 10:00 a.m., as the fighting raged at the Sunken Road, Burnside received orders to commence his attack against the bridge. Burnside sent Gen. Isaac Rodman with 3,200 soldiers downstream where they were to cross Antietam Creek and outflank the Confederates.  While Rodman’s men moved south, Burnside ordered diversionary attacks against the bridge. Over the course of the next three hours, at least three separate attacks were launched against the bridge, each one resulting in heavy loss.  Directions: Follow the trail up to the right, turning south to Stop 2. As you face the Burnside Bridge, you are looking west-southwest and are standing in the center of the three Union attacks on the bridge.  Stop 2 - Burnside Bridge Overlook The first attack was led by the 11th Connecticut Infantry followed by Crook’s Brigade. Crook mistakenly advanced upstream and was pinned down by Confederate fire. The 11th Connecticut pushed towards the bridge from the left. This uncoordinated first assault was just one example of how confusion, difficult terrain, and Confederate firepower broke down the Union attacks. The second attack on the bridge also came from the left. General Nagle’s Brigade was ordered forward at 11:00 a.m. and they were also turned back by incoming Confederate fire. Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero’s veteran brigade was selected for the third, and eventually successful, attack on the bridge. The 51st New York and the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments with about 650 men charged right down the hill towards the bridge. At first the Confederate resistance was still strong enough to force them to a halt, but with ammunition running low and Rodman’s men finally crossing downstream, Toomb’s men retreated and Union soldiers finally captured this crucial Antietam crossing. Directions: Continue on the trail along the edge of the field, back into the woods to Stop 3. Stop 3 - 11th Connecticut Monument This monument to the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was dedicated on October 8, 1894. Veterans of a difficult and costly charge at Antietam returned thirty- two years later to memorialize their fallen comrades. Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury and the men of the 11th Connecticut led the first attack on the bridge at 10:00a.m. Kingsbury, Confederate General D.R. Jones’s brother-in-law, urged his men on, until he was shot down by what Pvt. Tillinghast of Company D described as “the hottest fire we ever received.” Fighting desperately, the 11th CT made a gallant effort, but after losing a third of their men, including their commander, the Connecticut soldiers fell back. Directions: Backtrack on the trail and continue toward the fence and historic road that parallels the creek. Stop 4 - Fence Opening It was through this fence, along the stream, and up the road towards the bridge that many of Burnside's men charged, only to be shot down by the Confederates on the high ground on the other side of Antietam Creek. Directions: Walk towards the Bridge for stop 5. Then finish the trail  by crossing the historic bridge and head up the hill back to your car. <h4>Stop 5 - The Burnside Bridge</h4> Known as the Rohrbach Bridge before the battle, the bridge was designed and built by John Weaver at a cost of $2,300. It was completed in 1836 and was actively used for traffic until 1966. In an effort to preserve the bridge, a bypass was built to take cars on toa new bridge upstream. Today, visitors can once again quietly stroll across what has become the icon of Antietam Battlefield. The peaceful, bucolic setting belies the terrible struggle that took place where you have just walked.

The trail is about one mile in length with two hills and a combination of grass and dirt trail bed. About 1/2 of the trail is shaded by trees.

Park your car at Auto Tour Stop 9 and walk down the sidewalk to the patio overlooking Burnside Bridge.

The Union Advance Trail starts at Auto Tour Stop 9. The trail crosses Burnside Bridge (also known as the Rohrbach or Lower Bridge) and makes a loop on the east side of Antietam Creek. The trail is one mile in length and should take about an hour to complete. The trail is easy except for two hills. However, the surface can be slightly uneven, so good walking shoes are recommended. You will be exploring the area where the Confederates defended the Burnside Bridge, and then crossing over Antietam Creek to see where the Union Ninth Corps, commanded by Gen. Ambrose Burnside, made their advances to capture the bridge. To get the full story of all of the fighting on the south end of the battlefield, this hike is best combined with the Final Attack Trail. Hike Description and Interpretation <h4>The Confederate Defense</h4> It was Confederate Gen. D.R. Jones's division who defended the right flank of Lee's line. Here, the Confederates had the terrain advantage, however, they were terribly outnumbered. Jones’s Division numbered about 3,300, Burnside had available close to 12,000. The bridge crossing itself was secured by Gen. Robert Toombs small brigade of about 500 soldiers. Toombs placed the 2nd and 20th Georgia Infantry at the bridge. The rest of his small command spread out along the hill sides up and down stream where they poured their fire into Burnside’s men as they approached the bridge. Directions: Walk across the Burnside Bridge and turn left (north) and follow the trail along the stone wall to Stop 1. Stop 1 - Union Plan of Attack At 10:00 a.m., as the fighting raged at the Sunken Road, Burnside received orders to commence his attack against the bridge. Burnside sent Gen. Isaac Rodman with 3,200 soldiers downstream where they were to cross Antietam Creek and outflank the Confederates.  While Rodman’s men moved south, Burnside ordered diversionary attacks against the bridge. Over the course of the next three hours, at least three separate attacks were launched against the bridge, each one resulting in heavy loss.  Directions: Follow the trail up to the right, turning south to Stop 2. As you face the Burnside Bridge, you are looking west-southwest and are standing in the center of the three Union attacks on the bridge.  Stop 2 - Burnside Bridge Overlook The first attack was led by the 11th Connecticut Infantry followed by Crook’s Brigade. Crook mistakenly advanced upstream and was pinned down by Confederate fire. The 11th Connecticut pushed towards the bridge from the left. This uncoordinated first assault was just one example of how confusion, difficult terrain, and Confederate firepower broke down the Union attacks. The second attack on the bridge also came from the left. General Nagle’s Brigade was ordered forward at 11:00 a.m. and they were also turned back by incoming Confederate fire. Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero’s veteran brigade was selected for the third, and eventually successful, attack on the bridge. The 51st New York and the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments with about 650 men charged right down the hill towards the bridge. At first the Confederate resistance was still strong enough to force them to a halt, but with ammunition running low and Rodman’s men finally crossing downstream, Toomb’s men retreated and Union soldiers finally captured this crucial Antietam crossing. Directions: Continue on the trail along the edge of the field, back into the woods to Stop 3. Stop 3 - 11th Connecticut Monument This monument to the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was dedicated on October 8, 1894. Veterans of a difficult and costly charge at Antietam returned thirty- two years later to memorialize their fallen comrades. Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury and the men of the 11th Connecticut led the first attack on the bridge at 10:00a.m. Kingsbury, Confederate General D.R.Jones’s brother-in-law, urged his men on, until he was shot down by what Pvt. Tillinghast of Company D described as “the hottest fire we ever received.” Fighting desperately, the 11th CT made a gallant effort, but after losing a third of their men, including their commander, the Connecticut soldiers fell back. Directions: Backtrack on the trail and continue toward the fence and historic road that parallels the creek. Stop 4 - Fence Opening It was through this fence, along the stream, and up the road towards the bridge that many of Burnside's men charged, only to be shot down by the Confederates on the high ground on the other side of Antietam Creek. Directions: Walk towards the Bridge for stop 5. Then finish the trail  by crossing the historic bridge and head up the hill back to your car. Stop 5 - The Burnside Bridge Known as the Rohrbach Bridge before the battle, the bridge was designed and built by John Weaver at a cost of $2,300. It was completed in 1836 and was actively used for traffic until 1966. In an effort to preserve the bridge, a bypass was built to take cars on to a new bridge upstream. Today, visitors can once again quietly stroll across what has become the icon of Antietam Battlefield. The peaceful, bucolic setting belies the terrible struggle that took place where you have just walked.

On leash and owner must clean up after their pet. 

Hike the Union Advance Trail to learn about the fighting around the famous Burnside Bridge.

Alert: Artifacts Removed From Museum: After an extensive rehab project, the visitor center reopened in Sept. 2023. Due to unforeseen water leaks and humidity issues, all the historic artifacts have been taken off exhibit to protect them until these issues have been resolved.

Antietam

Overview

Hours

Fees & Passes

Map

Things To Do

Category

Take a short hike on the Tidball Trail

Description

Fees

Take a Short Walk on the Antietam Remembered Trail

Description

Fees

Visit Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center

Description

Fees

The Union Advance Trail at Antietam

Description

Fees

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