157th Battle Anniversary Schedule

Saturday, September 14th

Battlefield Hikes will take place at 9:30a and 1:30p. The morning hike will look at the witness trees while the afternoon program will focus on the Medal of Honor at Antietam. Both hikes are 2 miles in length and will last 2.5 hours. Meet at the visitor center for these programs.

Youth Tent will be open from 10a until 3p. The tent is located at the visitor center and will have activities for kids and families.

Music Program will begin at 10a and last about 45 minutes. Join us to hear music of the Civil War. Meet at the visitor center and then follow the ranger over to the Dunker Church for this program.

Orientation Talks will provide an overview of the Maryland Campaign and last about 30 minutes. These talks will be at the visitor center, 10a, 2p, and 4p.

Overview Hikes are short hikes over the three key areas of the battlefield. The Cornfield will meet at the visitor center at 10:30a. The Sunken Road will leave from the visitor center at 12:30p. The Burnside Bridge will meet at Tour Stop 9, parking lot at 2:30p. Combining these three, 90 minute, short hikes will provide an excellent overview of the battle.

Weapon Firing Demonstrations will be held near the visitor center at 11a, 1p, and 3p. Living historians will provide both infantry and artillery firing demos during these 45 minute programs.

Ranger Guided Tour of the Battlefield will begin at the visitor center, 1pm. This program is a car caravan tour of the field where visitors will follow, in their own vehicle, the ranger around the park making stops at three key areas.

 

Sunday, September 15th

Battlefield Hikes will start at 9:30a and 1:30p. The morning hike will explore the commemoration and monumentation at Antietam. We will meet at the visitor center for this 2 mile, 2.5 hour program. Our afternoon hike will focus on the Antietam National Cemetery and last about 2 hours. Meet the ranger at the national cemetery for this program.

Youth Tent will be located near the visitor center and will be open from 10a until 3p. We will have activities for kids and families available at this tent.

Music Program will begin at 10a. Meet the ranger at the visitor center for a short walk over to the Dunker Church to hear music of the Civil War. This program will last about 45 minutes.

Overview Hikes will be three, 90 minute, short hikes that will focus on the three key areas of the battlefield. Meet at the visitor center for The Cornfield program, 10:30a. The Sunken Road hike will meet at the visitor center, 12:30p. Meet the ranger at Tour Stop 9, 2:30p, for the Burnside Bridge. These short hikes are designed to be combined for an excellent overview of the battle.

Weapons Firing Demonstrations will be held near the visitor center at 11a, 1p, and 3p. Living historians will provide 45 minute programs on infantry and artillery used during the Civil War.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour will begin at the visitor center, 1pm. Visitors will follow, in their own car, the ranger around the battlefield making stops at three key areas along the way. This program will last about 2.5 hours.

 

Monday, September 16th

Orientation Talks will be held at the visitor center, 10a, 12p, and 2p. These programs will last about 30 minutes and are overviews of the Maryland Campaign.

Ranger Guided Tour of the Battlefield will begin at the visitor center, 1pm. Visitors will follow, in their own vehicle, the ranger around the battlefield making stops at three key locations along the way. This tour will last about 2.5 hours.

Prelude to Battle is 3/4 mile hike that will focus on the events that unfolded on September 16, 1862. This program will last about 90 minutes. Meet the ranger at 6pm at the New York State Monument, 100 yards north of the visitor center.

 

Tuesday, September 17th

Sunrise at Antietam Join us at 6:45am, Tour Stop 4 to experience sunrise on the 157th anniversary of the battle. This short walk will last about 45 minutes.

All Day Battlefield Hike will begin at 9:15am, near the visitor center. The morning part of this program will explore The Cornfield, West Woods, and Sunken Road. We will hike about 2 miles and the program will last about 3 hours. The afternoon portion of this program will meet at the Antietam National Cemetery, 1:30pm. We will hike the southern half of the battlefield exploring the Burnside Bridge fighting as well as the final attack of the day. This hike will also last about 3 hours and we will hike about 3 miles.

Orientation Talks will be at the visitor center, 10a, 12p, and 3p. These programs are 30 minute overviews of the Maryland Campaign.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour of the Battlefield will begin at the visitor center, 1pm. This car caravan tour of the field will last about 2.5 hours and has visitors meet the ranger at the visitor center. Everyone will then follow, in their own vehicle, the ranger to three key locations on the field to learn about the Battle of Antietam.

 

Aftermath of Battle Weekend
Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22

Orientation Talks
Overview of the Maryland Campaign. Meet at the visitor center for this 30 minute program. Friday: 10:00, 12:00, 2:00; Saturday: 10:00, 1:00; Sunday: 10:00, 1:00.

United States Sanitary Commission
Living history volunteers tell the story of the Commission and the role it played in improving the life of the common soldier. Visit them in their camp behind the Dunker Church. Camp is open on Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00.

Civil War Photography
Demonstration of the wet plate photographic process that was used by Alexander Gardner to record the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam. Meet just outside of the visitor center for this 45 minute program. Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 and 2:30.

Emancipation
Learn about the ties between the Maryland Campaign of 1862 and the Emancipation Proclamation and how emancipation helped to forge a new America. Meet at the visitor center for this 30 minute program. Saturday: 12:00 and 3:30; Sunday: 3:30

Newcomer Porch Program: Race and #Real Talk
This program at the Newcomer House features HALO, an all-female African American barbershop quartet whose mission is to use the unique style of harmonic progression in barbershop singing to help communities engage in constructive dialogue pertaining to race. This program will take place at the Newcomer House on Sunday at 1:30.

There Can Only Be One Antietam
This talk focuses on the formation of the commemorative landscape of the battlefield and how the park evolved as different organizations and individuals worked to preserve the memory of Antietam from 1864 to present. This program meets in the observation room on Saturday at 2:00 and on Sunday at 12:00.

Farmsteads of Antietam Driving Tour
Join a park ranger on a guided caravan tour to several of the historic farmsteads around the park. These farms were not only the setting for the battle of Antietam, but homes for many families of Sharpsburg. This tour will focus on some of these families, their history, and how they recovered from the battle. This tour will be approximately 2.5 hours. The tour is mostly driving but visitors should be prepared to stand at a number of stops for up to 20 minutes. Meets at the New York State Monument on Sunday at 11:30.

Civilian Talk
This program tells the stories of the families in the area and how they were impacted by the single bloodiest day in American history. This talk will meet in the observation room on Friday at 1:00.