2020 Annual Schedule

March
Saturday, 14^th - "He like a soldier fell" Irish Brigade Hike-Follow the route of the Irish Brigade as they made their famous charge towards the Sunken Road at the Battle of Antietam. The program will begin at the New York State Monument at 1PM. Please prepare for possible cold weather and wear suitable footwear for wet and uneven ground.
Sunday, 22^nd – The Fight for Burnside Bridge - Join a ranger to explore the action at the Burnside Bridge and the preparations made for the Final Attack. Meet at the temporary parking area near Tour Stop 9, Burnside Bridge at 1PM for this two mile hike.
Saturday, 28^th - Sunken Road - Join a ranger for this battlefield hike that will follow in the footsteps of the Union 2nd Corps' assault on the Sunken Road. This program will start at the visitor center, 1PM.
Sunday, 29^th - Witness Trees at Antietam - Join a ranger to discover some lesser known witness trees on the north end of the field and learn what these trees witnessed on September 17th, 1862. This program will meet at the visitor center at 1 PM.

April
Saturday, 4^th - Artillery at Antietam - Over 500 cannons added their destructive fire to the Battle of Antietam in what one soldier described as a "savage continual thunder." This one mile hike will look at Civil War artillery, ammunition, organization, and key positions on the field. Meet the ranger at the visitor center, 1PM.
Sunday, 5^th - Structures at Antietam - Join a ranger as we hike to several of the historic farmsteads on the battlefield. We will be discussing the impact the fighting had on the families, current NPS plans with the structures, and the history of the structure and surrounding outbuildings. This program will meet at the visitor center at 1 PM.
Saturday, 11^th -"Carnage on both sides was terrific" Miller's Cornfield - Hike the epicenter of the battle of Antietam during the morning hours of the bloodiest one day in American history. The program will begin at the New York State Monument at 1PM.
Sunday, 12^th - "Like wheeling a wheelbarrow over a mile of heaped up cobblestones" - The Philadelphia Brigade in the West Woods -A veteran of the Philadelphia Brigade described their advance through the East Woods and toward the West Woods as "like wheeling a wheelbarrow over a mile of heaped up cobblestones." This quote not only aptly describes their advance, but also could be applied to the parallel struggle, which lasted much longer, for African Americans to be emancipated from slavery and secure full citizenship rights. On our hike, we will cover not only the Philadelphia Brigade's fight in the West Woods, but also the complex relationship of certain members of the brigade to the African American freedom struggle. Meet the ranger at the visitor center, 1PM.

Saturday, 18^th - Junior Ranger Day- Visitors can participate in special programs, interact with Park Volunteers portraying Civil War soldiers , and become Junior Park Rangers. Programming will be geared toward children ages four to twelve, but all are welcome! Meets in front of the park visitor center from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, 18^th - Spring has Sprung Discovery Hike -Join us for a two mile hike along the Snavely Ford Trail and discover more about spring blooms, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the plants and animals that reside on Antietam National Battlefield. Participants will meet near the parking area for tour stop number 9 (Burnside Bridge) at 1PM.

Sunday, 19^th – The Final Attack - Join a ranger for this battlefield hike that will focus on the left end of Burnside's Final Attack. Meet at the temporary parking area near Tour Stop 9, Burnside Bridge at 1PM. This hike is about 3 miles and will last approximately 2 hours.

All of the hikes will last approximately 2 hours and participants should dress for the weather, we will hike, rain or shine.

May
Saturday, 23^rd - Volunteers portraying the 28th North Carolina will provide infantry firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Sunday, 24^th - Volunteers portraying the 28th North Carolina will provide infantry firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Monday, 25^th – Memorial Day Commemoration at Antietam National Cemetery –Events will begin at 11:00AM and will conclude shortly after 12 noon. Limited seating will be available on first come, first serve basis and visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair. Park volunteers representing Batter B, Fourth US Artillery will provide an artillery salute.

June
Saturday, 27^th - Volunteers portraying members of Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery will present artillery firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Sunday, 28^th - Volunteers from the Confederate Military Forces will provide combined infantry and artillery firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.

July
Saturday, 4^th - Salute to Independence – Join us and the Maryland Orchestra for an evening of music and fireworks beginning at 7:00PM.
Saturday, 11^th - Volunteers portraying the 12th South Carolina will provide infantry firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Sunday, 12^th - Volunteers portraying the 12th South Carolina will provide infantry firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Saturday, 25^th - Union Artillery Weekend -Volunteers from Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery, Battery F, 1st PA Light Artillery, and Battery D, 1st PA Light Artillery will present artillery firing programs at 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.
Sunday, 26^th - Union Artillery Weekend -Battery B, 4th US Artillery, Battery F, 1st PA Light Artillery, and Battery D, 1st PA Light Artillery will provide artillery firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM by the New York State Monument next to the visitor center.

August
Saturday, 22^nd - Confederate Living History Weekend- Living history volunteers will provide demonstrations of cannon and musket firing throughout the weekend. Between demonstrations their camp will be open for visitors who would like to learn more or ask questions. They will present living history programs at 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM on Saturday and 11:00AM and 1:00PM on Sunday at the Joseph Poffenberger Farm (Tour Stop 2).
Sunday, 23^rd - Confederate Living History Weekend- Living history volunteers will provide demonstrations of cannon and musket firing throughout the weekend. Between demonstrations their camp will be open for visitors who would like to learn more or ask questions. They will present living history programs at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM on Saturday and 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Sunday at the Joseph Poffenberger Farm (Tour Stop 2).

September
Saturday 5^th The Marines Have Landed -This living history program will feature U. S. Marines representing the contingent of “Leathernecks” who marched to the battlefield in 1924 for training maneuvers. In September of that year over 3,000 Marines marched from Quantico and spent eleven days on the battlefield training and showcasing their skills and equipment. This smaller encampment will be held at the historic Mumma Farm.
Sunday, 6^th - The Marines Have Landed -This living history program will feature U. S. Marines representing the contingent of “Leathernecks” who marched to the battlefield in 1924 for training maneuvers. In September of that year over 3,000 Marines marched from Quantico and spent eleven days on the battlefield training and showcasing their skills and equipment. This smaller encampment will be held at the historic Mumma Farm.
Wednesday, 16^th – Prelude to Battle – Join a ranger for this 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 6:00PM, at the New York State Monument, 100 yards north of the visitor center.
Thursday, 17^th – Sunrise at Antietam - Join us at 6:45AM, Tour Stop 4 to experience sunrise on the 158th anniversary of the battle. This short walk will last about 45 minutes.
Thursday 17^th - All Day Battlefield Anniversary Hike- The morning part of the hike will meet at the visitor center, 9:15AM and the afternoon part will start at 1:30PM at a location to be determined. More details will follow as we get closer to this event.
Saturday, 19^th - Commemoration of the 158th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam and its Aftermath Volunteers will provide living history programs, including cannon firing and musket firing demonstrations, just outside the visitor center at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, volunteers will present demonstrations of wet plate photography at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM daily. Living history demonstrations will take place at different locations throughout the battlefield.
Sunday, 20^th - Commemoration of the 158th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam and its Aftermath Volunteers will provide living history programs, including cannon firing and musket firing demonstrations, just outside the visitor center at 11:00AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, volunteers will present demonstrations of wet plate photography at 12:00PM and 2:00PM daily. Living history demonstrations will take place at different locations throughout the battlefield.

October
Saturday, 10^th - Volunteers portraying members of Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery will present artillery firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM at the Joseph Poffenberger Farm (Tour Stop 2).
Sunday, 11^th - Volunteers from the Confederate Military Forces will provide combined infantry and artillery firing demonstration programs at 11:00AM and 1:00PM at the Joseph Poffenberger Farm (Tour Stop 2).

December
Saturday, 5^th – Memorial Illumination - Antietam National Battlefield, in cooperation with the American Business Women's Association and the Washington County Convention and Visitors' Bureau, will host the Annual Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination in honor of those soldiers who fell during the Battle of Antietam. The event opens at 6:00PM. There is no rain date if the event is cancelled due to poor weather.