Antietam National Battlefield
Maryland
Antietam National Battlefield, located in Sharpsburg, Maryland, preserves the site of the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. The battlefield encompasses fields along Antietam Creek, near the Potomac River and Appalachian foothills, featuring key landmarks such as Burnside's Bridge, a national military cemetery, and the Pry House Field Hospital Museum. The battle ended General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North and prompted President Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Visitors can explore an 8.5-mile driving tour with interpretive stops, a visitor center with exhibits and a James Earl Jones-narrated film, and the Pry House, which served as Union General McClellan's headquarters and now educates on Civil War medical care. The adjoining Antietam National Cemetery contains nearly 5,000 interments, mostly Union soldiers, and is notable for its historic gatehouse designed by Paul J. Pelz. Each December, the battlefield is illuminated with thousands of luminaries honoring the fallen soldiers. The site is managed by the National Park Service and has been preserved through significant efforts to prevent commercial development, ensuring its historical integrity for future generations.
ヒント: Plan to visit during daylight hours to fully experience the self-guided driving tour and museum exhibits. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays. Consider purchasing tickets in advance for convenience; entrance fees are valid for three days and there are discounts for youth under 17. Attend the annual December illumination event to witness a moving tribute to soldiers. Ranger-led talks and audio tours enhance understanding of the battle's significance.
興味深い事実
- •The Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing.
- •The Antietam National Cemetery contains over 4,976 interments, including 1,836 unidentified soldiers.
- •The cemetery gatehouse was the first building designed by architect Paul J. Pelz, who later designed the Library of Congress.
- •The battlefield illumination event began in 1989 and involves placing 23,000 luminaries to represent soldiers affected by the battle.
- •The battlefield was listed multiple times as one of America's Most Endangered Places due to threats of commercial development but was successfully preserved.
歴史
The Antietam battlefield was established as a protected site on August 30, 1890, later transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service in 1933, and redesignated in 1978.
The battlefield commemorates the pivotal 1862 clash where Union forces halted Confederate General Lee's first invasion of the North.
The adjoining National Cemetery was commissioned in 1865 and began interments in 1867, primarily for Union soldiers, with Confederate dead buried elsewhere.
The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and has undergone preservation efforts to prevent commercial encroachment, notably being named one of America's Most Endangered Places in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
場所ガイド
Burnside's Bridge1862
A stone arch bridge over Antietam Creek, famously contested during the battle. It was a strategic point where Union forces attempted to cross under heavy Confederate fire.
Antietam National Cemetery1865
This cemetery contains the graves of nearly 5,000 Union soldiers who died in the battle and subsequent wars, including unidentified remains. The gatehouse was designed by Paul J. Pelz.
Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center1962
Built in 1962, the center offers museum exhibits on the battle and the Civil War, along with a 26-minute orientation film narrated by James Earl Jones. It serves as the starting point for the self-guided driving tour.
Pry House Field Hospital Museum
Located in General McClellan's former headquarters, this museum focuses on Civil War medical care and the history of the Pry House during the battle.
連絡先
電話: (301) 432-5124
