This week marks the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American history. But the story of Antietam is about more than what happened on September 17, 1862. We’re looking back at some of Preservation Maryland’s work exploring, preserving, and sharing the stories connected to this historic landscape.
Over the years, Preservation Maryland has approached Antietam from many angles; not only the battle itself, but the people who lived on and around the battlefield, the communities shaped by the conflict, and the ongoing work of preserving the landscape and making its many layers of history accessible.
Below is a collection of videos, articles, and PreserveCast episodes from Preservation Maryland’s archives, including anniversary features, conversations with historians, and stories about the preservation of Antietam and the surrounding community.
Antietam Battlefield & Preservation
- Antietam Battlefield – Preservation Maryland’s overview of its work at Antietam, including funding a visitor experience plan for the historic Newcomer House and broader battlefield preservation efforts in Sharpsburg.
- Heritage Fund Highlight: New Visitor Service Plan for the Newcomer House at Antietam Battlefield – An overview of Preservation Maryland’s Heritage Fund support for planning a new visitor experience at the historic Newcomer House.
“Discovering the Layers of History” Video Series
Annual anniversary dispatches led by Preservation Maryland President & CEO Nicholas Redding explore the stories that can be overlooked when we focus only on the battle itself.
- 162nd Anniversary: “A Landscape Turned Red” – Short videos exploring the layers of history at Antietam, from farmers and Dunkers to enslaved people and soldiers.
- Discovering the Layers of History at the Antietam Battlefield – Companion article to the video series, with additional resources on Antietam and the legacy of slavery.
PreserveCast: Antietam & the Maryland Campaign
Preservation Maryland’s PreserveCast podcast has returned to Antietam and the surrounding landscape throughout its history, including a dedicated 10-episode series in 2017.
- Ep. 37: How to Preserve a Battlefield, with Dr. Tom Clemens – Clemens, founder of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation and editor of Ezra Carman’s writings, discusses the effort to preserve the Antietam battlefield.
- Ep. 25: Too Afraid to Cry — Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign, with Kathleen Ernst – Historian and novelist Kathleen Ernst discusses the experiences of Maryland civilians during the Antietam Campaign.
- What We Think We Know About History, with Dennis Frye – A conversation with historian Dennis Frye, re-released in connection with the 160th anniversary, about how historians continue to revisit and reinterpret Antietam’s history.
- Black Antietam: African Americans and the Civil War in Sharpsburg, with Dr. Emilie Amt – Historian Emilie Amt discusses the experiences and history of African Americans in Sharpsburg during the Civil War.
- Tolson’s Chapel and the History of Reconstruction, with Edie Wallace – A look at Tolson’s Chapel in Sharpsburg and its connection to African American history and the Reconstruction-era community.
- PreserveCast Launch Announcement – The story behind Preservation Maryland’s 2017 in-depth Antietam podcast series, funded through a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant.
Beyond the Battle
- The Aftermath of Antietam – A look at what happened after the fighting ended and the lasting impact of the battle on the civilians and community of Sharpsburg.
- Remembering the Fallen: Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination – A reflection on the National Park Service’s annual illumination honoring the approximately 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing during the Battle of Antietam.
- A Pivotal Moment: The Battle of Shepherdstown – An exploration of the fighting at Shepherdstown just days after Antietam and the broader story of the Maryland Campaign.
- The Story of Memorial Day is Written Across Maryland’s Landscapes and Buildings – A broader look at how Maryland’s historic places preserve stories of sacrifice, memory, and the aftermath of the Civil War, including Antietam.