Hershey and Lancaster County with a little Blue Ball and Intercourse mixed in..........

Hershey lives up to it's billing!

It's hard to imagine what the Hershey Corporation might be worth today if it's founder, Milton Hershey would have only stayed in school a few more years.  Hershey was born in 1857 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania.  Like many children born in rural farm areas at that time he was expected to help out on the family farm from a very early age.  By all accounts he learned early on the value of hard work, something that I'm sure was very helpful to him later in life.

By the age of fourteen his mother and aunt had steered him in the direction of candy making by arranging for him to be an apprentice under a well known confectioner from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  At the age of nineteen he moved to Philadelphia to start his own candy making business.  His first few years in the business were a little bumpy and he was frequently on the move, spending time in Denver, New Orleans, Chicago and New York, but always working on perfecting his craft.  

In 1883 he moved back to Lancaster and started the Lancaster Carmel Company.  Within a short time the Lancaster Carmel Company became a huge success and by the early 1890's employed over 1,300 people.  Not content to rest on his success, Hershey became interested in chocolate, so much so that he sold the Lancaster Caramel Company for one million dollars to start the Hershey Chocolate Company.  

Fast forward to today and the Hershey Chocolate Company is one of the largest candy companies in the world.  Their factories churn out around 70 million Hershey's Kisses every day.  According to the company, that if all the kisses made annually were placed in a line it would be over 300,000 miles long.  All those kisses, chocolate bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, etc. produce an annual revenue of around eight billion dollars.  Not bad for a company started by someone whose formal education was through the fourth grade!

The town of Hershey is located just fifteen miles from Harrisburg (the Capital of Pennsylvania).  What started as a "company town" for workers at the candy factory is now a major tourist attraction with a theme park, hotel, arena, stadium, museum and botanical gardens all of which are blanketed by the sweet smell of chocolate coming from the factory.  In spite of the growth, the town itself is relatively small and has been able to retain that "small town feel" along it's main street, which is lined with street lights that look like Hershey's Kisses.

Chocolate Avenue and street lights that look like Kisses..........a chocolate lovers (Beth) paradise!  I'm good with chocolate but would be happier in Planters Peanut World.

Our amusement park days are mostly behind us so we were quite content with a peaceful stroll through Hershey Gardens.  The center piece of the twenty three acres at this time of year is the rose garden, which is in full bloom with roses of all colors.  Additionally there is a really nice Butterfly Atrium located inside the entrance that is full of butterflies from around the world.  We enjoyed the gardens at no charge thanks to our annual pass to St. Pete's Sunken Gardens.  If you prefer gardens to roller coasters you might want to check out an annual pass to a local botanical garden to see if it is a part of the American Horticultural Society.  If so, your membership will get you free or reduced admission to over 345 gardens in North America.

Entrance and the Rose Garden

One thorn and a bunch of roses!

There are 23 different gardens in the 23 acres.

I'm not sure what it is but I'm sure because of it's size my Texas friends will say it's a flower native to Texas.

So much nature I had to take a break!

A hitchhiker trying to escape the Butterfly Atrium

Hershey Gardens

After finishing up in the tranquil gardens we moved on to Chocolate World which is a combination of a store selling all things Hershey's, a simulated tour of how chocolate is made (free sample at the end) and several other attractions.  There was a short line for the simulated factory tour which gave us time to read the information on the company history, products and Milton Hershey.  Our visit to Chocolate World was fairly short, but fun nonetheless, as we watched parents forking over wads of cash for gobs of Hershey's candy that they could buy for less at their local Wal-Mart. 

The Kissmobile.......cousin of the Oscar Myers Wienermoblie?

Chocolate World!

Our tour guide for the simulated factory tour.

The Chocolate World store........so much sugar, so little time!

Chocolate World 

From Hershey it was a short forty minute drive to the city of Lancaster (the city of Lancaster is the county seat for Lancaster County).   We made a brief stop at the Lancaster Central Market.  In 1730 Lancaster was designated as a "market town" where farmers would bring their produce and products to sell or trade.  The market has operated out of the one square block Market House since 1889, making it the oldest, continuously running farmers market in the US.  The market is currently open three days a week (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) from 6:00 AM-3:00 PM and features over sixty vendors offering local foods and crafts.  We knew a big lunch awaited but were tempted by a Sour Cream and Onion Pretzel that turned out to be really good.

Lancaster Central Market still sells produce along with so much more.

It was now early afternoon and time to check out a place that had been recommended to us by Beth's sister in law, Marilyn.  The Shady Maple is a Pennsylvania Dutch Restaurant with quite a history.  It has grown from humble beginnings as a roadside produce stand under some large maple trees in 1962 to become the largest buffet in the US.  The buffet itself is over 200 feet long and the restaurant can seat more than 2,000 people.  While as a general rule buffets aren't really our cup of tea, we had been assured the Shady Maple was worth trying.  Sure enough it lived up to it's advance billing. Although it was busy, it wasn't overly crowded and the food was not only plentiful, it was also fresh and high quality.  We enjoyed a hearty lunch and as we left I told Beth that I was proud of myself.  I ate plenty but not so much that I felt like I might puke.  I guess I'm getting some self control.

Definitely worth a visit! 

We rode through some of the rural sections of Lancaster County where many Amish and Mennonites have lived for centuries.  We had visited Lancaster County some years back and were surprised to see how much it had grown.  The farms are still there and the Amish and Mennonites still cling to their ways of life, but clearly it's becoming harder as the area grows.  We were interested in an Amish House and Farm that we had read about.  When we arrived we were shocked to see that while the house and farm were still there it is now surrounded by a Target and Outlet Mall.  I guess you can't stop growth, but I'm not sure I'd call it progress.

Lancaster County is still worth visiting, especially if you get on some of the back roads where you will most likely still pass an Amish family traveling on their horse and buggy.  You'll also get to amuse yourself as you pass through some of their uniquely named villages such as Bird in the Hand, Lititz, Blue Ball and of course everyone's favorite, Intercourse! 

Wacky Town Names in Lancaster County, PA

It was a long and very enjoyable adventure.  We had several hours in the car but there were some great stops throughout the day.  When we got back to the Lock Keepers Cottage the day ended on a high note with me beating Beth (a very rare occurrence) in scrabble with my highest score ever!

Annapolis, Baltimore and following the Rays!

Orioles Park at Camden Yards........plus evidence that we do occasionally stay out past dark!

One of the things we knew before starting our month stay in Sharpsburg was that there was going to be plenty to see and do here.  What we underestimated was just how much. Many Civil War historic sites, the Pennsylvania Amish Country (Lancaster County) and places like Washington and Baltimore are easily reachable for day trips.  We try to mix in a few outings with making sure that we leave plenty of time to relax and enjoy our time here along the Potomac River.  After a sedate Friday that consisted of a hike along the towpath canal (there will be a blog about the towpath soon), Beth sitting by the river while I fished, and visiting what has become our favorite winery, Saturday was adventure day.

We headed out around 9:00 AM, completely unsure of when we would be getting back to the Lock Keepers Cottage.  We left with a change of clothes, toothbrushes, etc. which gave us a couple of options, either to return late in the evening or stay overnight and return Sunday.  You'll have to read on to learn which option we took and what was the deciding factor.

Our first destination was the city that's known as "America's Sailing Capital" and the "Sailing Capital of the World", Annapolis, Maryland.  In addition to the accolades related to sailing, Annapolis is the home to the U.S. Naval Academy, which seems to keep with the nautical theme.  

It's hard to argue that this isn't the sailing capital of the US or the world!

It was an hour and a half to drive from Sharpsburg to Annapolis.  When we arrived it was overcast with a little bit of a drizzle and a very comfortable temperature in the low 70's...........it felt great!  In spite of the drizzle, the historic downtown was bustling with what seemed to be a mix of locals and tourists.  There were several "pay to park" options along the way, but we're cheap so we drove on, looking for street parking that was either cheaper or free.  We crossed the Spa Creek Bridge which took us into the Eastport section of the city.  We quickly found a free place to park on a side street and were pleasantly surprised to learn that it was actually less than a block from where I had scoped out for us to have lunch.

Lunch was still a few hours away, which gave us plenty of time to make the short walk back across the Spa Creek Bridge and along Annapolis's Main Street and the surrounding area.  Main Street was a nice blend of mostly local shops and restaurants with a few national chains that have made their way into the mix.  Thankfully, and I'm sure due to strict local ordinances, the historic look and feel has been well preserved.

Main Street Annapolis

Further up Main Street.  The Capital is on the right and the steeple of St. Anne's Church (built in 1858) is on the left,

Annapolis

At the far end (from where we parked) of Main Street is the Maryland State Capital.  It's surprisingly small in stature, but with a big history.  It has the distinction of being the oldest state capital in continuous use and is the only state capital to have ever served as the nation's capital.  George Washington appeared here before the Continental Congress to resign as Commander in Chief and the Treaty of Paris was signed here, which marked the end of the Revolutionary War.  The very impressive looking Governor's Mansion is just across the street, making the commute to work less than a minute, which I assume also makes sneaking away for an afternoon nap quite easy.

The Maryland State House (Capital)

Maryland State House

Just a few blocks off Main Street and running parallel to the historic district is the U.S. Naval Academy.  The school opened on ten acres in 1845 as the Naval School at Fort Severn in Annapolis.  In 1850 it became the U.S. Naval Academy.  Today the campus is 338 acres in size with over 4,400 midshipmen and 600 faculty members.  The campus has been closed to the public due to covid, but has reopened recently.  Entrance to the campus is through the visitors center which is near the city dock end of the campus.  There is no entrance fee and it is my understanding that you can explore the grounds on your own or take a guided tour (photo ID is required for adults).  

Naval Academy Visitors Center.  We didn't have time to do a tour or walk around the campus..........it gives us something to look forward to on our next visit.

US Naval Academy

After roaming around and enjoying the historic district it was time for lunch. We headed back across the Spa Creek Bridge and made sure we hadn't messed up and parked in a "no parking zone".  Being quite pleased that the Silver Bullet was still there and there was no ticket on the window we headed for The Boatyard Bar and Grill.

The Boatyard is top rated on trip advisor for Annapolis and has made it's mark serving up its Maryland "All Killer-No Filler crab cake".  When we arrived we were told that the wait time would be around forty minutes.  We figured a forty minute investment in our time was a small price to pay for something with such an outstanding reputation.  We were really pleased when the forty minute wait was actually less than 15 minutes.  Soon we were nibbling on an appetizer of crab and spinach dip, which was followed by an excellent crab sandwich and salad which we split.  

Michelle Obama, Jimmy Buffett and Kevin Bacon have eaten at the Boatyard Bar and Grill.  I'm not sure what they ordered, but we'd recommend the lump crab sandwich!

Boatyard Bar and Grill

With full bellies and a desire to revisit it sometime down the line, we said goodbye to Annapolis and made the short thirty minute drive to Baltimore.  We had visited Baltimore years back when the kids were still young.  That visit was one of our "baseball trips" that took us to games in Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore.  Baseball was on the agenda for the day, but we had a few hours to explore the Inner Harbor area before the game.

The Inner Harbor is the tourist hub of the city.  It features the National Aquarium, Port Discovery Children's Museum and a number of other attractions, as well as plenty of places to shop and dine.  We spent several hours wandering around and of course stopping occasionally for one of our favorite pastimes, bench sitting.  Like many large cities, Baltimore has faced its fair share of challenges, but it did seem to us that it was working hard to make a come back.  The Inner Harbor area felt safe and was quite busy with people of all ages and walks of life enjoying a lazy summer, Saturday afternoon.

A friendly welcome to Baltimore!

Along the Inner Harbor

The National Aquarium Complex.  The Skybridge connects the two buildings.

The Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse.  It was located at the mouth of the Patapsco River in Baltimore Harbor until it was decommissioned.  It has been relocated to Pier 5 as an historical landmark.

Baltimore Visitors Guide

We finished up our time in Baltimore watching our favorite baseball team, the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Baltimore Orioles.  Being somewhat of a baseball junkie, I'm proud to say that I've seen games in the home ballpark of twenty eight of the thirty major league teams.  I'm also happy to let you know that Beth has been along for most of these experiences.  While she's not as enthusiastic as me about checking them off the list, she enjoys them as well.  Of all the parks, Orioles Park at Camden Yards is one of the best.  It's well designed with wide concourses, interesting features, plenty of food options, friendly and very loyal fans.  This year is not going to go down as one of the Orioles best years, but there was still a nice crowd cheering on the home team.  Thankfully, there cheers weren't enough and the Rays spanked them 12-3.

A beautiful night for baseball and a free Oriole's mascot bobblehead!

We're ready for some baseball!

If you're a baseball fan and haven't been to Camden Yards put it on your list of parks to visit........I think you'll love it!

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The game started late due to an Orioles Hall of Fame induction ceremony so we ended up leaving before the game was over.  We decided not to spend the night in Baltimore and drive on back to the Lock Keepers Cottage, but we still had one thing to check off the list............Krumpe's Do-Nuts!.  Unbeknownst to us until the other day, Krumpe's is a legendary do-nut shop in Hagerstown that has been serving up little morsels of goodness in these parts for over 80 years.  Beth learned about Krumpe's from a lady waiting in line at another local eatery earlier in the week (there will be a blog on food and wine coming soon).  While they were admiring the sweets in this place the lady told her that while they were good here, there was a place called Krumpe's that were even better.  Her comment received an "amen" from the lady behind them and soon a visit to Krumpe's was on our "to do" list.

DoNut Alley leads to................

Krumpe's!

Krumpe's

Krumpe's is open seven days a week, but their hours are a little unique.  They are only open from 7:00 PM-11:00 PM.  We strategically timed leaving the ballgame in Baltimore to make it to Krumpe's before their 11:00 closing.  We made it with twenty minutes to spare.  Was it worth leaving the game early to go to Krumpe's............yes it was!  A sweet ending to a sweet day.  

I'd open the box but it's empty!

Gettysburg, and a little more.........

 

The Tucker Trio, with Abe, outside the Gettysburg Foundation Visitors Center

Arguably the most famous battle of the Civil War was the three day battle from July 1-3, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  While the war continued until the final surrender of Lee's Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, most Civil War experts consider Gettysburg to have been a crucial turning point for the Union.

The buildup to this battle began in early June when Lee began marching his army westward through the Blue Ridge Mountains, into Maryland and onward into Pennsylvania.  Unknown to Lee they were being followed by Union troops and the unexpected collision of these two armies took place at Gettysburg.  By the end of the three days of fighting it is estimated that over 7 million rounds of ammunition (not including cannonballs) were fired.  It is estimated that around 51,000 troops were killed, injured, captured or declared missing.  With over 24,000 causalities, Antietam was the deadliest single day battle. Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of this terrible war.

Today this small Pennsylvania borough of just over 7,000 residents hosts over one million visitors per year.  The battlefield is obviously the reason for most visits, however, Gettysburg does offer much more.  There is a small, very nice downtown with numerous museums, shops and restaurants.  Gettysburg has numerous hiking and biking trails for outdoor adventures,  The battlefield is a National Military Park that is operated and maintained by the National Park Service.  The Visitors Center, Museum and Battlefield Tours are operated by the Gettysburg Foundation. 

Gettysburg National Military Park 

Gettysburg Foundation

From Sharpsburg it was just over an hours drive to Gettysburg.  We had the pleasure of having Ben join us on this adventure.  He made the three and a half hour drive over from Western Pennsylvania to spend his days off with us.  Although it was somewhat busy when we arrived, the visitors center wasn't overly crowded.  There are multiple things to see and do and multiple ways to do it.  We consulted with a very nice gentleman at the information desk who helped us decide on a plan.  

We chose to do the package deal of the introductory film (A New Birth of Freedom, narrated by Morgan Freeman, the Cyclorama (a 337 foot painting in the round of Picketts Charge on day 3 of the battle) and the Museum.  All three were excellent and very helpful in understanding the events leading up to, during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.  If you're visiting and choose this package you should count on around two hours for these three activities.  

There are three ways to see the battlefield, on your own (pamphlets are free or audio guides can be purchased), on a bus with a guide or with a private guide who is employed by the foundation.  Since there was a private guide available for the time we wanted, we chose that option.  Guides are limited but will take up to six individuals, so if there are three or more it's actually as affordable as the bus.

Our guide was named David and in addition to serving as a guide, he is a history professor with over thirty years of teaching experience at nearby Shippensburg University.  He was passionate in his narration as we went along the route, taking time to explain points of interest and events in great detail, as well as answering our many questions.  His knowledge of the Gettysburg battle was amazing and we're quite certain that we barely scratched the surface of what he knows.  All guides are certified by the National Park Service, so I'm sure that if you elect to hire a private guide your experience would be similar.

The hill on Cemetery Ridge.  It was here on the third day of the battle that 7,000 Union troops held off the 12,000 man Confederate infantry charge that was ordered by General Lee.  The battle is commonly referred to as Picketts Charge, named after George Pickett, the Confederate leader who was in charge of the failed raid.

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial.  This monument was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt on July 3, 1938 marking the 75th anniversary of the battle.

We concluded our time in Gettysburg at the Soldiers National Cemetery where over 3,500  Union soldiers are buried.  It is also on this site that Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.  The 272 word speech took less than two minutes. It offered hope and inspiration that the sacrifice of so many would lead to a better future for the country. 

This monument to Abraham Lincoln is located in the Soldiers National Cemetery near where he gave the Gettysburg Address.

After our visit to Gettysburg we drove to Harrisburg, the Capital of Pennsylvania.  

In addition to being the capital of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg is the home of the AA affiliate of the Washington Senators.....they are appropriately named, The Harrisburg Senators.  The stadium is located near the capital complex on a small island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.

I've done a lot of ballgames in a lot of ballparks with this guy..........as well as with the person taking the picture!

Sunset over the Susquehanna! 

Catoctin Mountain Park.............."I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you"!

 

Fueling up at the Blue Ridge Summit Trailhead before heading out

Just a forty minute drive from our Airbnb in Sharpsburg is Catoctin Mountain Park.  Like Harpers Ferry and Antietam National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park is maintained and operated by the National Park Service.  If you're like me, when you think of the National Park Service you think of the National Parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc..  In reality, the 63 "National Parks" make up less than 15 percent of the 423 "units" covering more than 85 million acres that our park services oversees.

The very nice and informative park ranger at Catoctin Mountain Park smiled as she explained that there are nineteen different naming designations (National Parks, National Battlefields, National Historic Sites, National Monuments, etc.).  She went on to share with me that there are eleven different units that just don't fit into any of the designations and that Catoctin Mountain Park is one of those eleven.  She chuckled as she used the analogy that the park was like the weird aunt, uncle or cousin that every family has that just doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the family.  While it may not fit into any of the designations, we found the 5,770 acre park to be very scenic and to have a couple of very unique features that none of the other National Park Service units can claim, and there is no admission fee!

National Park Service 

Catoctin Mountain Park

The first of these is that camps (built by the CCC in 1939) within the park were closed when the US entered World War II.  The camps converted to rehabilitation facilities for injured soldiers and then into a training facility for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).  The OSS was a new government intelligence gathering and espionage agency.  It has evolved into what we now know as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The GPS brought us into the park on the opposite end from where the visitors center is located (MD-77 and Park Central Road).  We're glad it did because the 10-15 drive along this winding road, under a canopy of tall trees, was very impressive.  Making it even more enjoyable was the fact that it seemed as if we had the park pretty much to ourselves, only passing one or two cars as we made our way to the visitors center.

In addition to the brief lesson on the National Park Services designations, we were also given some suggestions of a place to enjoy a picnic and hike.  While the park has over 25 miles of hiking trails. most of the longer (2+ miles) trails are considered moderate to strenuous due to elevation changes and terrain. We asked about and were pointed in the direction of some very enjoyable shorter trails.  We enjoyed a picnic at the Blue Ridge Summit Trailhead as well as the 1.2 mile round trip hike to the overlook.  We also enjoyed the two mile (roundtrip) hike to Hog Rock, which also had a nice overlook of the park. 

Along the Summit Ridge Trail.  The trails we hiked were well marked and mostly flat. There were occasional exposed tree roots and loose rocks.

Summit Ridge Vista.  Even on a hazy day it offered a great view of the park.

Searching for President Biden from the top of Hog Rock!

After hiking we stopped back by the visitors center to get some information on Cunningham Falls State Park which is adjacent to Catoctin Mountain Park.  The state park land was once a part of Catoctin Mountain Park, but in 1954 it was turned over to the Maryland State Park Service  In addition to wanting information on the state park I had a couple of other questions for my park ranger friend.

Hunting Creek Lake is a man made lake in Cunningham Falls State Park.  The parks beach can be seen across the lake.  The park features the longest cascading waterfall in Maryland, however at this time of year the waterflow is light.

The second unique thing about Catoctin Mountain Park is that Camp David, the presidential retreat since the FDR administration, is located within the park.  The general location of Camp David is somewhat easy to figure out because if the president or another high ranking official is there sections of the park are closed.   Inquiring minds want to know, so I had to ask................"were we overlooking Camp David from either the Blue Ridge Summit or Hog Rock?  She had a one word answer for me.....No!   At that point I assumed that since she been so helpful that she was under instructions not to talk about Camp David, so I just had to push a little more.  I looked at the map and asked "can you point to Camp David? She looked at me, smiled and said "it's within the boundary of the park".  I interpreted that to mean  "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you"!

The irony of that whole conversation about the location of Camp David is that it's actually not a big secret.  When I pulled up google maps earlier this morning, it's location was shown on the map!  I think we might have seen it from Hog Rock but I'm not sure.  Besides, if I told you where it was I guess I'd have to kill you............just look for it on Google Maps!

Antietam National Battlefield

The cannons serve as a reminder of the battle that took place on this farmland near Sharpsburg.

A year and a half into the Civil War the outcome remained uncertain.  Both the Union and Confederate forces were battling with resolve and determination.  Until September of 1862 the fighting had taken place on confederate soil.  General Robert E. Lee made the decision to move his troops over the Potomac River and on to Union soil in Western Maryland with the goal of continuing to move northward into Pennsylvania.

This set the stage for a clash that would come to be known as the Battle of Antietam (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Sharpsburg), the bloodiest day in American History.  Today 3,200 acres of the battlefield is maintained as a historical park that is operated and maintained by the US Park Service.  The peaceful rolling hills are covered with corn and soybean fields that are still maintained by local farmers just as they were back in 1862 when death, suffering and chaos was all around.  Experts on the Civil War tend to sum up the battle as "Tactically Inconclusive" but as a strategic victory for the Union that drove General Lee and the confederate troops back across the Potomac River.  Within a week of the battle President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation which warned confederate states that he wanted to free all people held as slaves within the rebellious states.   

Looking across the battlefield from the visitors center 

New York Monument honoring the 3765 soldiers from New York who were killed wounded and captured during the Battle of Antietam

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Dunker Church was a German Baptist Church built in 1852.  It was heavily damaged during the battle but rebuilt for the Civil War Centennial.

At the present time the visitors center is undergoing a seven million dollar renovation that will be completed in the summer of 2022.  In the interim there is a temporary visitors center adjacent to the main parking lot. 

The park service offers ranger led talks to provide additional information.  At the present time these 30 minute talks are offered twice a day (10:00 and 12:00).  However you may want to check the schedule if you are planning a visit.  Beth and I were fortunate enough to be able to listen to one of the presentations.  It was given by a young park ranger and it was absolutely fantastic.  He eloquently painted a picture of what unfolded on the battlefield that kept the audience captivated throughout his presentation, even though it was outside on a very hot and sunny day.

After the presentation we did the self guided driving tour of the battlefield.  The park service provides a pamphlet with a description of eleven recommended stops along the way.  The length of time to complete the self guided tour will depend on how much time you spend exploring the stops and reading the numerous informational signs along the way.  We spent about an hour and a half to two hours which I would imagine is about average.  As I mentioned above, we highly recommend the ranger talk if at all possible.

Admission to the Antietam National Battlefield is $10 per individual or $20 per car.  Admission is free if you have an annual or senior national park pass.

This 24 acre cornfield saw some of the heaviest fighting during the battle. Both sides suffered heavy losses. none more than the  Louisiana Brigade which suffered over 60 percent casualties in less than 30 minutes.

The Sunken Road (also known as the Bloody Lane).  For several hours the heavily outnumbered 2,000 confederate troops held off over 10,000 union soldiers.   After the union troops gained control an observer said "Words are inadequate to portray the sight the of the dead lying like ties of railroad, in heaps like cordwood mingled in the splintered and shattered fence rails.

  

The Lower Bridge (renamed after the war to honor the Union Army General Ambrose Burnside).  Under Burnsides command the union troops pushed back the confederate army toward the town of Sharpsburg.  The tree in front of the bridge was there in 1862!

The final stop on the self guided tour was at the Antietam National Cemetery where 4,776 Union Solders are buried.

Antietam National Cemetery.  Confederate soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Hagerstown and Fredrick, Maryland and Shepherdstown, West Virginia (Shepherdstown was a part of Virginia during the Civil War.

The numbers on the left represent the losses for the Union Army, the numbers on the right represent the losses for the Confederate Army.  The bloodiest one day battle in American history.  Union or Confederate.........they were all Americans!