Artillery Weekend 2008

Date: June 12, 2008

Ka-boom! The awesome power of the big guns comes to Antietam.

Experience the smoke and thunder of Civil War artillery as a section of cannons shakes the ground and echoes down the valley. Join park rangers and volunteers for a special weekend that will let you smell the smoke and hear the roar of cannon fire. Living history volunteers portraying Colonel Stephen D. Lee's Battalion will discuss the role of artillery at Antietam. This unit suffered ten times the normal losses of Civil War artillery in a typical battle. Colonel Lee ever after referred to Antietam as "Artillery Hell."

Saturday Schedule of Events - June 14, 2008            

10:00 a.m. Ranger led battlefield tour. Join a Park Ranger for an orientation in the visitor
center observation room followed by a three-stop caravan style tour of the
battlefield (2 hours).

11:00 a.m. Artillery firing demonstration behind the Visitor Center (30 minutes long).
12:00 (noon) One hour "Antietam Documentary" in the visitor center theatre.

1:30 p.m. Ranger led battlefield tour. Join a Park Ranger for an orientation in the visitor
center observation room followed by a three-stop caravan style tour of the
battlefield (2 hours).

2:00 p.m. Artillery firing demonstration behind the Visitor Center (30 minutes long).

3:30 p.m. Orientation to the field by a Park Ranger (1/2 hour long).

4:00 p.m. Artillery firing demonstration behind the Visitor Center (30 minutes long).

Between demonstrations, the living history volunteers will be available to answer
questions in their camp behind the Dunker Church from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday.

Sunday Schedule of Events - June 15, 2008

10:00 a.m. Ranger led battlefield tour. Join a Park Ranger for an orientation in the visitor
center observation room followed by a three-stop caravan style tour of the
battlefield (2 hours).

11:00 a.m. Artillery firing demonstration behind the Visitor Center (30 minutes long).

12:00 (noon) One hour "Antietam Documentary" in the visitor center theatre.

1:00 p.m. Artillery firing demonstration behind the Visitor Center (30 minutes long).

2:00 p.m. Ranger led battlefield tour. Join a Park Ranger for an orientation in the visitor
center observation room followed by a three-stop caravan style tour of the
battlefield (2 hours).

3:00 p.m. Orientation to the field by a Park Ranger (1/2 hour long).

4:00 p.m. Orientation to the field by a Park Ranger (1/2 hour long).

Between demonstrations, the living history volunteers will be available to answer
questions in their camp behind the Dunker Church from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Sunday.