Civil War Sites to Visit

The Battle of Antietam became a pivotal event during the Civil War. Union victory at Antietam gave President Lincoln the momentum he needed to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation. Early battlefield photography from Antietam first brought the realities of war to American homes. Citizens now understood the bloody cost of battle. 

Learn about battle events that culminated in confirming the nation, freeing the enslaved, and further defining and strengthening the purpose of the American Civil War. Discover how the battle affected civilians and farmers living in the area. Begin your visit at the historic Newcomer House, site of the Heart of the Civil War heritage Area Exhibit and Visitor Center, for information and tips for planning your trip, then stop at the Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center for an orientation to the site and a stunning view overlooking the battlefield.

Union soldiers, outnumbered three to one, fought the Confederacy gallantly on the banks of the Monocacy River in July of 1864, buying time for Union reinforcements to arrive in Washington, D.C. The battle, which delayed the Confederates' attack on Washington, foiled the Confederacy’s plan to capture Washington and saved the capital. It became known as “The Battle that Saved Washington.

This fascinating museum in Frederick offers a unique glimpse into the world of Civil War medicine. The war marked a medical turning point as modern science revolutionized wound treatment and established a triage system in the field. Immersion exhibits illustrate the stories of patients, caregivers and medical innovations during the Civil War. Education programs, guided tours and a museum store further illustrate Civil War medicine.

From there, walk to the nearby Barbara Fritchie House. Legend has it that Fritchie refused to lower her American flag as the rebel army passed by, inspiring the famous poet John Greenlief Whittier to write, “Shoot if you must, this old gray head, but spare your country’s flag, she said."

John Wilkes Booth stopped here to pick up weapons as he fled Washington, D.C. after killing President Lincoln. This was the home of Booth’s co-conspirators Mary Surratt and her son John. Mary was tried and hanged for her role in the plot, but some still believe she was innocent. Tour the museum built in this immaculately preserved 1852 farm house that was the site of one of the most important moments in American history.

John Wilkes Booth stopped here while attempting escape from federal authorities after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, The Great Emancipator. Dr. Mudd treated the villain, setting his broken leg. History continues to debate Dr. Mudd’s role in the plot to kill Lincoln: some say he was part of the conspiracy, others claim he was an innocent caught up in Booth’s folly. Visit the museum and decide for yourself. Many of the costumed tour leaders are direct descendants of the doctor still fighting to clear the once proud name, Mudd. 

More than 50,000 Confederate prisoners were held here at Point Lookout prison camp. Many died due to the harsh conditions or drowned in futile attempts to escape by swimming the mouth of the Potomac River to Virginia. This was also the site of the Union’s Hammond Hospital. Enslaved freedom seekers from Virginia escaped to the Union lines here where they were protected. Some served as prison guards. 

The site now offers a swimming beach, campground, lighthouse, museum and water trails, but is considered by many to be one of the most haunted places in America.

Union troops arrived by train to this station, en route to Washington, D.C. to defend the capital in April of 1861. They walked Pratt Street to Camden Station to change trains. Along the way, Confederate sympathizers attacked the Union soldiers who were injured during what became known as the “Pratt Street Riots,” the first bloodshed of the Civil War. Exhibits inside the historic station depict these events. 

Nearby, a short water taxi ride will take you to Fort McHenry, which was utilized as a Union prison camp. Then travel to southwest Baltimore to tour the B & O Railroad Museum, where an exhibit “The War Came By Train” provides a fascinating look at how rail shaped the Civil War.

Although Fort McHenry is most famous for its role in the War of 1812, it also served an important role for the Union during the Civil War, due to Maryland’s position as a border state. The fort became a prison for Confederate soldiers, southern sympathizers and political prisoners, earning it the nickname “The American Bastille.”

Its prison witnessed a major influx of Confederates following the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, but not all prisoners were soldiers. Some were citizens who had expressed pro-secessionist sentiments. Following President Lincoln’s suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the state, private citizens could be arrested without trial for expressing pro-secessionist beliefs. Lincoln recognized that the rising tensions in Maryland were too dangerous for the survival of the country if the state was able to secede. Congress later passed the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus for Maryland in 1862.

In addition to serving as a prison, the fort also functioned as a garrison to protect and control Baltimore. Its cannons pointed to the water to defend the city from coastal attack. They also pointed toward Baltimore to intimidate a pro-secession population into remaining in the Union.

Self-guided or virtual tours of the fort allow visitors to view exhibits in the fort and have a guided experience via a smart device. Ranger programs and events provide an in depth look at the site’s history from experts. With such a prominent role in American history, this is a site not to miss.

The Civil War was the first conflict in the world fought with the use of trains, a new technology at the time. The B&O Railroad served as a critical Union supply line during the Civil War. Serving as the only rail connection between Washington, D.C. and the rest of the Union, Union soldiers defended the rails at critical bridges and junctures, which were a frequent target of Confederate raids.

The railroad was used to transport troops, equipment and food from the Midwest. Telegraph lines along the railroad relayed news at the start of the war. The B&O Railroad President at the time, John Work Garrett, collaborated so closely with President Abraham Lincoln that the railroad was nicknamed Lincoln’s Railroad. Following the end of the war, over 200,000 Union troops returned home on the B&O Railroad.

At the B&O Railroad Museum, an exhibit “Civil War: The War Came By Train” illustrates the railroad’s significant role in the war. You can see examples of period passenger cars and one of the last remaining locomotives that saw combat, while exploring this history.

Railroads were also used by those who were escaping from slavery, providing a pathway to freedom. A separate exhibit “The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad” tells the stories of several notable freedom seekers’ journeys.

The deep forests, farmland and rolling hills of South Mountain in western Maryland witnessed fighting during Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland in 1862. The Union Army attempted to push through the mountain passes to find Lee, but was met with Confederate forces in Crampton's, Fox's and Turner's gaps on September 14, 1862. The Battle of South Mountain delayed the Union's advance, giving Lee's Army of Northern Virginia time to concentrate their forces in Sharpsburg. The Battle of South Mountain was the first battle of the Maryland Campaign that culminated in the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862 prior to Lee's withdrawal.

Begin your visit at the South Mountain State Battlefield museum located in Washington Monument State Park, north of Alternate U.S. Route 40, to discover more about the first major Civil War battle fought in Maryland. Hike the Appalachian Trail through the gaps where the battle ensued, or drive the Antietam Campaign Civil War Trail to uncover where the action happened. Along the way you’ll see the site of the Old South Mountain Inn, which once served as Confederate Major General D.H. Hill’s headquarters during the battle. You’ll also find the War Correspondents Memorial and the Battle of Crampton’s Gap Interpretive Trail in Gathland State Park.