News Release

National Park Service to restore historic viewsheds on Thomas and Worthington Farms

Date: October 20, 2020
Contact: Jana Friesen McCabe, 301-471-0322

FREDERICK, Md.— To restore historic viewsheds on the Thomas and Worthington Farms, Monocacy National Battlefield will remove trees within targeted areas starting Oct. 20 through Dec. 30, 2020. This work will help restore historic sight lines that were present during the 1864 Battle of Monocacy and increase opportunities for the public to access and learn about the battlefield. The park will replant the areas where trees are removed and maintain them as open spaces. 

During the Battle of Monocacy on July 9, 1864, some of the most intense fighting occurred between the Thomas and Worthington Farms. The construction of Interstate 270 in the 1950s created a barrier between the two farms, and tree growth along the road corridor and field edges has further disconnected these two significant areas of the historic battlefield.  

The restoration of these historic viewsheds is a part of a continued implementation of the Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan - Environmental Assessment, which the National Park Service finalized in 2017. The plan also calls for the addition of almost eight miles of trails, the restoration of visual connections and improvements to pedestrian access. The park added new trails at Best and Worthington Farms in 2019 and completed a new accessible boardwalk at Gambrill Mill in July 2020. 

For visitor safety, the park will place temporary closures at the Thomas and Worthington Farms. Information on the closures will be available on the park website, Facebook and Instagram. Visitors may also contact the park visitor center at [phone].  

Monocacy National Battlefield was established by Congress to preserve the battlefield and commemorate the July 9, 1864 battle. The park provides opportunities for visitors to understand and appreciate the significance of the Battle of Monocacy within the full context of the Civil War and US History.