23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862.

The area, situated on fields among the Appalachian foothills near the Potomac River, features the battlefield site and visitor center, a national military cemetery, stone arch Burnside's Bridge, and a field hospital museum. Today, over 330,000 people visit the park each year.

Arlington House is located within the grounds of the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome to Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial! The residence of Robert E. Lee and his family before the Civil War, Arlington House has a unique and interesting story, with connections to many important figures, issues and events in American History. Built by George Washington Parke Custis and his slaves between 1802 and 1818, the house and grounds have served many purposes over the last two hundred years: a family home for the Lees and Custises, a plantation estate and home to 63 slaves, a monument honoring George Washington, a military headquarters, a community for emancipated slaves and a national cemetery.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is located in Arlington National Cemetery. This grand memorial sits in the middle of what was once an 1,100 acre plantation, owned by George Washington Parke Custis. His only surviving child, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, married Robert E. Lee in 1831. Arlington was the home of the Lee family for nearly thirty years, prior to the Civil War.

Be prepared to spend some time touring the house, walking through the flower garden and visiting the Robert E. Lee Museum and the slave quarters.

 

The Corcoran Gallery of Art is one of the oldest privately supported cultural institutions in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt Peale, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Gene Davis, and many others. Founded in 1869 by William Wilson Corcoran, the Corcoran was the oldest and largest non-federal art museum in the District of Columbia. Its mission is "dedicated to art and used solely for the purpose of encouraging the American genius."

The DEA Museum & Visitors Center is committed to educating the American public on the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration and on the impact of drug addiction from past to present.

Dumbarton House is a Federal style house located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. It was completed around 1800. Its first occupant was Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the Treasury.

The home was purchased by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in 1928 and opened to the public in 1932.

Ford's Theatre is a historic theatre in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. After being shot, the fatally wounded president was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where he died the next morning.

The theatre was later used as a warehouse and office building, and in 1893 part of it collapsed, causing 22 deaths. It was renovated and re-opened as a theatre in 1968. During the 2000s it was renovated again, opening on February 12, 2009, in commemoration of Lincoln's bicentennial. A related "Center for Education and Leadership" museum experience opened February 12, 2012 next to Petersen House.

The Petersen House and the theatre are preserved together as Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service; programming within the theatre and the "Center for Education" is overseen separately by the Ford's Theatre Society in a public-private partnership

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial was built in the 1920s by the more than two million American Freemasons who wished to: “express in durability and beauty the undying esteem of the Freemasons of the United States for him in whose memory it shall stand throughout the coming years.”

This magnificent structure is privately funded through the grateful contributions of Freemasons and others, and remains open to the public, seven days a week.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is more than a colossal memorial and museum. It is a tourist attraction and destination;   research center and library; community center; performing arts center and concert hall; banquet and celebration site; and meeting site for local and countless visiting Masonic lodges and organizations. However, first and foremost, it is a memorial to honor and perpetuate the memory, character and virtues of the man who best exemplifies what Freemasons are and ought to be, Brother George Washington.

Our Vision: “To inspire humanity through education to emulate and promote the virtues, character and vision of George Washington, the Man, the Mason and Father of our Country.”

Your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park should be time well spent! The mission of the National Park Service and its partner, the Gettysburg Foundation, is to provide each and every visitor with a quality experience while visiting the Museum and Visitor Center, walking in the Soldiers' National Cemetery where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address,and while touring the battlefield park. There are a number of suggestions we can offer to help you map out the time you will spend at the park and the basic information on this page will guide you in planning your visit. We encourage you to explore our other web pages, especially Things to Do and Things to Know Before You Comeas these provide up to date information on park events and programs that will be of interest.

Where should we begin our visit to the park? Begin your visit at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, where the park offers free information, an extensive museum about Gettysburg and the Civil War, the fully restored Gettysburg Cyclorama that dramatically depicts "Pickett's Charge", and the film "A New Birth of Freedom", narrated by award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, which focuses on the significance of Gettysburg. There is an entry fee for admission to the museum, film and Gettysburg Cyclorama. The center also provides information on the numerous ways to tour the battlefield park including the Licensed Battlefield Guide service, an expansive bookstore managed by Event Network, Inc., and a refreshment saloon that offers snacks, sandwiches and drinks in a Civil War period atmosphere. Shuttle buses to Eisenhower National Historic Site are available from the Visitor Center.

How long should I plan for my visit? Plan to spend a minimum of four hours at the park, though an entire day is more desirable if you wish to take advantage of the museum, film and cyclorama program, have a leisurely tour of the park and visit nearby attractions. Recently, visitors have spent an average of three and one half hours in the museum alone!

What kind of park tours are best for me? The park offers a number of battlefield tours that can be arranged at the Museum and Visitor Center. Tour the park with a Licensed Battlefield Guide in the convenience of your own vehicle or ride along with others on a tour bus accompanied by a guide (offered seasonally). There is a fee for a guided tour. We also offer self-guiding auto tours and tours on compact disk, which can be purchased at the museum book store. Commercial bus tours of the park are available through companies in Gettysburg.

50% off individual admissions and 25% off single purchases in the museum shop

A visit to this quaint, historic community, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, is like stepping into the past.  Stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike our trails and battlefields. Spend a day or a weekend.  We have something for everyone, so come and discover Harpers Ferry!

Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. It was formerly Harper's Ferry with an apostrophe and that form continues to appear in some references. It is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where the U.S. states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia meet. It is the easternmost town in West Virginia. The town is located on a low-lying flood plain created by the two rivers and surrounded by higher ground. Historically, Harpers Ferry is best known for John Brown's raid on the Armory in 1859 and its role in the American Civil War. The population was 286 at the 2010 census.

The lower part of Harpers Ferry is located within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Most of the remainder, which includes the more highly populated area, is included in the separate Harpers Ferry Historic District. Two other National Register of Historic Places properties adjoin the town: the B & O Railroad Potomac River Crossing and St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) headquarters is located in Harpers Ferry and the town is one of only a few through which the Appalachian Trail passes directly. Harpers Ferry is also an outdoor recreation destination. Popular activities include white water rafting, fishing, mountain biking, tubing, canoeing, hiking, zip lining, and rock climbing.