Antietam the Bloodiest One Day Battle in American History

     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.   

 

       


 

The park Visitor Center has a theater, exhibits, observation room, and museum store.  The audiovisual programs include: "Antietam Visit," an award-winning film, shown on the hour. This 26-minute movie recreates the battle, as well as, President Abraham Lincoln's visit to Union Commander General George B. McClellan. Every day at 12:00 noon a one hour documentary about the battle of Antietam, narrated by James Earl Jones, is shown in the Visitor Center theater.

Interpretive talks are conducted daily by park rangers. During the summer season, Ranger programs are expanded and scheduled more often. Check at the Visitor Center for a daily schedule.

- Explore the museum exhibits in the visitor center.
- View the 26-minute introductory film "Antietam Visit" which is shown on the hour and the half- hour, except from noon to 1:00 p.m.
- Join a Park Ranger for a battlefield talk.
- Browse the Museum Store.
- Take the self-guided 8 1/2 mile auto tour through the battlefield. The tour has 11 stops and begins at the Dunker Church.