Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg

Fantastically preserved battlefield. I stopped on a Sunday, got my passport stamp and decided to do a self guided tour following the easy to locate signs along the roads throughout the park. The visitor center was under construction but the temporary one was just as good. I spent nearly two hours at the park but needed much more time. At least a day to see everything and probably longer to actually walk the many trails they have. I will be making my way back again as soon as I can to this wonderful park.

The guided tour was ✨amazing✨ and I learned so much! The best part about it was the guide who was so great at his delivery of information that we (me and my father) were thoroughly entertained the whole time. I'll suggest to others that may be thinking about getting a guided tour to definitely go ahead and do it. It's an investment and you will not be let down, every single ranger and guide in this park knows more than you'd even think to ask. Our guide had a sheet that broke down damages claimed by the farmers and converted it into what the cost was in today's money―it was so thorough. The park itself is beautifully maintained with active restoration efforts being made constantly. I have so far visited this location three times and I have always seen improvements being made to either the monuments, the visitor's center or the park itself. There is also a huge bonus to birders out there! Antietam has an amazing bird population with a nest box program to aid the swallows and help control the many insects common to farmlands. If you're interested in the US Civil War, want to support preservation efforts and just want to have a nice quiet day of learning in a beautiful environment, come here. Come here and spend all your money on the tour and at the gift shop. That's exactly what I did and I have no regrets.