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February 2024 by Theresa C.
The new visitor center has an excellent museum and a theater with a film that portrays the historical significance of this site. It's a somber unit of the National Park Service, the site of an intensely bloody Civil War battle. Outside, there are monuments to walk around, a park loop to drive and some historic buildings you can go inside.
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November 2023 by Mc G.
Awesome park with breathtaking views and well maintained facilities! Would recommend for all interested
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November 2023 by Mama T.
We came during the last fee-free day of the year (Veterans Day) and it was a good way to introduce the children to a part of history that saw a great number of casualties, and hopefully instill in them to appreciate the freedoms they have today as it came at such a great cost. We started out at the visitor center where the introductory film helped us see the big picture and introduced us to facts we didn't know before about this particular battle. It may our outing to the Burnside Bridge more meaningful and we appreciated the Sunken Lands more as wer visualized where the Confederates would have been and where the Union Army would be approaching. We also hung around to catch the last ranger talk for the day and he did a great job rehashing what was in the movie and adding some more details which really make history come alive. It is definitely a day well spend and a great way to honor veterans who have served in America's wars.
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November 2023 by George H Baluski
Really informative, Great history review
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October 2023 by Kristie K.
Like Gettysburg, we decided to do everything they had to offer and have a nice day learning about history in the process. At the beginning of this tour, you go into a large room with tall windows that overlook a large part of the battlefield that lasts about 30 minutes give or take a few minutes. A tour guide gives you a rundown of each section including the bloody cornfield, which is insane, and still in use today. Antietam was a one-day battle and your Driving/Walking tour takes you in the same direction of the actual battle as it progressed that day. According to the guide, it is the most preserved battlefield and he was not wrong you can still see bullet holes and buildings that have remained untouched by time. Although it was just the one day, some consider it the most casualty-filled in one day of the entire war. This battle along with Gettysburg the following year are considered the two that turned the tide of the war. Once you get the rundown from the tour guide and have an overview of everything you will be seeing on your driving/walking tour you are free to continue. Like the other battle museums, there are plenty of photos and artifacts from the time. It is definitely worth your time to walk through and observe a little piece of history and to add to your knowledge of what it took to get us from then to now. Granted, not as big as Gettysburg, but there is a much greater preservation at this smaller of scale. The memorial cemetery is very well maintained and a hike to get around in of itself. I did find that overall this tour was more walking to see everything where others are easily accessible by car. That is the charm of Antietam, you should get out of your car look around and get a feel for the area. Do yourself a solid and go when the winds have turned and summer is past, this way you will not suffer in the heat. I encourage you to visit any of the National Parks and Museums across the country. Any money you pay for entry or services will be used as a donation to the upkeep and preservation of the locations. All donations help and I hope when you do visit that you enjoy it as much as I did. **The spoken part at the beginning from the Ranger Tour Guide is what I wish I'd gotten in school.
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October 2023 by Linda M.
Great park, not commercialized. Will get good idea of what happened on the bloodiest day of the civil war.
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October 2023 by John K.
I went to Gettysburg first. Always watch the movie at these battlefields. James Earle Jones narrates this one.The country side here is very pretty.You can drive around the battlefield and stop where you want to. National Park pass covers admission if you have it. Go to the Bavarian Inn for lunch. Oh the toad was right outside the visitor center and he belongs.Later go to the Civil War Medicine Museum in Frederick. With all this under your belt you'll be a Civil War expert
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September 2023 by Eric Webb
New visitors center is really well done and a nice upgrade over the original. The battlefield itself rate 6 stars (out of 5) - the only reason I gave the store 4 stars is that I wish it were bigger! They have really done a nice job on the quality of items they offer, again just wish there was more of it! Will definitely come back (because I do twice a year, every year!)
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September 2023 by Mollie W.
During a road trip, I stopped by the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. Four hours later, I had learned so much about the Civil War, the battles, the Lee's Maryland Campaign, and all about Antietam - the bloodiest one-day battle of the American Civil War. I was able to tour Dunker Church, the Burnside Bridge, the North Woods, the East Woods, the Cornfield, the West Woods, the Mumma Farm and Cemetery, Sunken Road, and the amazing visitor's center they have on site. Brad Gottfried, here's to you, sir, for being the best docent around. This is really hallowed ground here and it will humble you and have you in deep thoughts throughout the self-guided vehicle tour and afterwards.
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July 2023 by Shawn V.
This is one of the finest preserved full scale battlefields in the United States. Its seductive, Rolling hills, winding creeks & historic structures adorn over 3800 acres! I recommend Fall & Spring as the optimal visiting times, but any time of the year will be an immersive experience.
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July 2023 by LoveTravel569230
Great place to visit even if your not a Civil War fanatic. We did the 6 hour tour as my husband loves the Civil War era. Brad Gottfried conducted our tour and was phenomenal. He makes it interesting so that anyone can understand it. He’s written numerous books and was kind enough to take a photo with my husband and autograph his book.
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July 2023 by Pompadore69
An absolute MUST SEE for any history buff especially civil war fanatics. Very moving site when you realize how many Americans died in a single day's battle. Very beautiful landscape and an easy drive thru. The visitor's center is being remodeled but the interim center is bare bones. Watch the professionally produced video before you take the driving tour. If you are a real fanatic about battlefields, call in advance and book a private tour guide that will join you in your automobile for a much more in-depth tour.
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July 2023 by Ivisitedtheplace
PROS * Historic place * Most deadly battle of American Civil War * Massive green landscape of the big battles * Restored intact Civil war cannons to inspect and marvel at them * Very high number of explanatory markers of the developments that occurred in each and every individual particular location * Many tall memorial monuments commemorating the fallen from specific areas and states- I saw New York, Ohio and Maryland- that final one dedicated by Governor J. Millard Tawes in 1962 * Many larger-than-life statues of Civil war soldiers in uniform and with their muskets and weapons. * The area seems to be open 24/7 * Visitor Center is being restored- it provides maps, audio and guides and explanations CONS * The site is incredibly massive and there is no way to even try to see it without a car... and even then, the distances are significant * This cannot be done adequately without the VisitorCenter information or audio or by guided tour. "I VISITED THIS PLACE"... ... when I learned where it was and since I am a confirmed history buff for already 60+ years. I because interested in it, since I was going to Harpers Ferry to hike and I wanted to see what else is in the area. It became a major significant essential stop on my journey, and I'm glad that I visited it. I was there at 0700H on a Friday- the area is open but the park is officially closed. I visited and explored and inspected all the cannons, and went to all the tall monuments and inspected, read and photographed most of the inscriptions (see my many photos). It was a good drive between the many and various historical tourist visitor sites and places; the markings were not fantastic for me to know if I was on course. WAS IT WORH THE PRICE? In principle, it requires the USD$30 annual National Parks pass (which I had), but I just drove in and around. ADVICES Visit this place to learn about history and to honor our American Civil War fallen heroes, but only with a car and some kind of detailed guide- person, tour bus, pamphlet, download...
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June 2023 by John D
I was on an extended trip across VA, PA, MD to see Civil War Battlefields. I went to Manassas, Gettysburg and Antietam. Of the three, Antietam was the best and here is why. This was a very bloody and nasty battle. Lincoln had directed Gen. McClellan to "kill them all, if possible" . It was also one of the first real photographed battles in the US that rammed home the destruction on both sides. 160 years later, you can "feel" the heavy sensation of lives lost. Its not a "park setting"(to me anyway). Walking the bloody lane aka sunken road and remembering the photo of the bodies lined along the road like railroad ties, you really feel the place. Beyond all of that, the "park" has a nice auto tour system clearly marked. It has a very tall stone observation tower you can climb, old surrounding farm homes(about 3), and the burnside bridge(stone bridge) that the federals crossed under fire. there are ample trails. You can spend all day there. If there is your kind of thing, GO. You will not be sorry
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June 2023 by peter pinkham
The store was nice, although we did not get anything this trip. The movie they showed gives you a good idea how events developed concerning this battle. The car tour is also excellent. Nothing but good!If you like National Parks, get the lifelong pass. It pays for itself quickly... We used it, saved 20.00 today alone... ??
