The Antietam National Battlefield Tour

The Antietam National Battlefield is the site of one of the most savage battles of America’s most bloody war. It was here, on September 17, 1862 that Union and Confederate forces would engage in a fight that would become cataclysmic in proportions. At the end of the day, 23,000 soldiers would be dead, wounded or missing, making it the battle in which the most American’s lost their lives, even more than D-Day in World War II.

That legacy is preserved today by the National Park Service. Almost 100 monuments give testament to what happened here, the enormous loss of life and the impact that the battle, and the war in which it occurred, would have on American history. As a result of this battle, Lincoln was motivated to sign the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation that set the slaves free and that sent the Civil War raging to its bloodiest heights.

The Antietam National Battle Field has opportunities for guided tours, self-tours and even tours that are guided via an MP3 downloaded to a personal music player. The park rangers are always willing to share their vast knowledge of the site.