2025 Battle Anniversary Schedule

Join us as we commemorate the 163rd Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam with many special talks, tours, and living history/weapons firing demonstrations. Note that programs will discuss both the battle on one weekend and the aftermath of battle on the following weekend.

 

Saturday, September 13

Battlefield Orientation Talks - 30-minute overview of the Maryland Campaign. Starts at the Orientation Room at 9:30 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm.

Civil War Music - Join park staff to listen to and learn about the music of the time. Meet at the Dunker Church, 10:30 am, for this 45 minute program.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour - Car caravan tour of the battlefield. Follow the ranger in your vehicle to three stops. Program starts at the Orientation Room at 12:30 and lasts 2 1/2 hours.

Kids Program- Signal Flags - Interactive program on how flags were used to communicate during the Civil War. Starts at the visitor center, 10:00 am, and will last approximately 30 minutes.

Weapon Firing Demonstrations - Living history program demonstrating Civil War weapons. 45-minute program is held just outside of the visitor center at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

Battlefield Hikes - The hikes on Saturday will focus on the fighting that took place in and around the Cornfield. The morning hike will begin at 9:30 am at the New York State Monument, near the visitor center. The afternoon hike will start at 1:30 pm and meet at Tour Stop 2, The North Woods. Each program is about 2 miles in length and will last approximately 3 hours.

Sunday, September 14
Battlefield Orientation Talks - 30-minute overview of the Maryland Campaign. Starts at the Orientation Room at 9:30 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm.

Civil War Music - Join park staff to listen to and learn about the music of the time. Meet at the Dunker Church, 10:30 am, for this 45 minute program.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour - Car caravan tour of the battlefield. Follow the ranger in your vehicle to three stops. Program starts at the Orientation Room at 12:30 and lasts 2 1/2 hours.

Kids Program- Signal Flags - Interactive program on how flags were used to communicate during the Civil War. Starts at the visitor center, 10:00 am, and will last approximately 30 minutes.

The Battle of South Mountain Talk - Join author and battlefield guide, Steven Stotelmyer for a program about the Battle of South Mountain. This event will take place in the visitor center theater, at 1:00 pm and will last approximately 45 minutes.

Weapon Firing Demonstrations - Living history program demonstrating Civil War weapons. 45-minute program is held just outside of the visitor center at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

Battlefield Hikes - The hikes on Sunday will focus on the attacks made by the Federal II and IX Corps. The morning hike will begin at 9:30 am at the New York State Monument, near the visitor center. The afternoon hike will start at 1:30 pm and meet at Tour Stop 8, The Burnside Bridge. Each program is about 2 miles in length and will last approximately 3 hours.

 

Tuesday, September 16 and Wednesday, September 17

Tuesday, September 16
Battlefield Orientation Talks - 30-minute overview of the Maryland Campaign. Starts at the Orientation Room at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour - Car caravan tour of the battlefield. Follow the ranger in your own vehicle to three key stops. This program will last approximately 2.5 hours and will begin at the park visitor center, 1:00 pm.

Battlefield Hike- Prelude to Battle Explore the battlefield landscape and events that unfolded throughout the afternoon and evening of September 16, 1862. Meet at the New York State Monument, just north of the visitor center, at 6:00 pm for this 1 mile, 90 minute program.

Wednesday, September 17 - ***FEE FREE DAY***
Short Walks - Sunrise at Antietam Experience sunrise on the morning of the 163rd anniversary of the battle listening to the words of the soldiers who fought here. Meet at Tour Stop 4, The Cornfield, 6:45am for this 60 minute program. Journey through Time on the Dunker Church Plateau Meet a ranger in the visitor center orientation room at 11:00am; they will take you on a photographic journey through time, from the Bloodiest Day in American History to present day. Meet in the visitor center orientation room for this 60 minute program.

Battlefield Hikes- An all-day hike of the battlefield will be conducted in two parts. Part I will include Cornfield, West Woods, and Sunken Road. Meet at the park visitor center, 9:00 am, for this 4 hour/3 mile hike of the field. Part 2 includes the action at the Burnside Bridge and the Final Attack. We will meet at the Antietam National Cemetery, 2:00 pm. This hike will last approximately 3 hours and we will walk 3 miles.

Battlefield Orientation Talks - 30-minute overview of the Maryland Campaign. Starts at the Orientation Room at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.

Ranger Guided Driving Tour - Car caravan tour of the battlefield. Follow the ranger in your own vehicle to three key stops. This program will last approximately 2.5 hours and will begin at the park visitor center, 1:00 pm.

 

Aftermath Weekend - Saturday, September 20th and Sunday, September 21st

Battlefield Orientation Talks - 30-minute overview of the Maryland Campaign. Starts at the Orientation Room at 9:30 am & 12:00 pm.

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 10:00 am & 1:00 pm.

National Cemetery Tour - Meet a ranger at the National Cemetery for this 60 minute program that will include a short walk around this area. 1:00 pm.

3D Photography Program - ***SATURDAY ONLY*** Presentation featuring the stereographs of the Antietam battlefield taken by photographer Alexander Gardner. Wearing 3-D glasses, you’ll feel as if you can walk right into these battlefield scenes. Program will last approximately 45 minutes at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Civil War Medicine - Join National Musuem of Civil War Medicine living history volunteer Brad Stone to learn more about battlefield surgery. On going programs 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, just outside the visitor center.