My husband and I took a quick day trip to Antietam when we were out visiting my in-laws last month. We had PERFECT weather while we were there, I'll share some pictures from the visit here and on my photography page as well. Originally, we were going to make a visit to South Mountain but evidently there was some construction going on with their parking lot and visitors were required to make a hike up to get to the battlefield. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it is situated on Appalachian Trail but when our time was somewhat limited, we wanted something with direct access this time.
Antietam National Battlefield had a bit of construction going on as well. They're in the middle of a visitor center remodel/update (it was sorely needed, you'll agree if you've visited in the last few years prior to this) but it should be done later this summer or fall. I can't wait to go back and see it!
The last time I visited Antietam/Sharpsburg, it was in the middle of August about four years ago. If you've been to Maryland in the summer, you know that humidity is a major factor in any outdoor enjoyment at that time of year. Having visited in April this time, our experience was much more...temperate...than the last time! Plenty of trees and flowers in bloom, the grass was beginning to green up as well. Allergy meds were a must.
A couple items of note from our trip were, of course, the visitor center construction (which we knew about ahead of time), and the completed construction of Burnside's Bridge. In my prior visit, we were not able to get to the bridge as it was in the middle of a renovation. That work is now complete along with a lovely new walking path for all mobility situations. The area around the bridge looks great (pictures to follow).
One special treat in this area is the witness tree located next to the bridge, on side opposite the parking lot. If you have an opportunity to see this towering sycamore tree, I highly recommend it. This tree, as the NPS placards show, was present during the battle and still continues to grow today.
Witness trees are preserved on all battlefields when they are located. Gettysburg also has several on the park grounds (over a dozen) including one near the Trostle Farm.
In addition to getting a few last minute photos for my book, it was great to be able to take our time going through this BEAUTIFUL battlefield. Antietam is one of the most picturesque battlefields I've visited - an immediate contrast to the carnage that took place there in 1862.
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