A "national heritage area" is a place designated by the United States Congress where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally-distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These areas tell nationally important stories about our nation and are representative of the national experience through both the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved within them.

Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area stretches 175 along the Route 15 Corridor. Covering four states, the Journey includes Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Frederick County, Maryland, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. Its path is a treasure trove of history—Native and African-American sites, restored architectural gems, Presidential homes, and the greatest concentration of Civil War battle sites in the country.