The 150^th Commemoration of
The Maryland Campaign
September 8 - 22, 2012

Below the Mason Dixon Line,  Above the Potomac River, and at the Heart of the Civil War

150th Maryland Campaign Commemoration

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Join us March 18th at the South Mountain Heritage Society for a Volunteer Mixer.

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September 8 - 22, 2012

The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area  invites you to join us for the 150^th anniversary of the Maryland Campaign in the Civil War. In September 2012, events will unfold to lead you on a journey recalling how our nation was shaped and molded by decisive moments in history that happened right here – some lasting only a single day.   Whether you are interested in home front stories, the heat of battle, or the aftermath of conflict, our commemoration programs will ignite your passions, inspire reflection, and lead you to new discoveries about the past.

Step back in time….

On September 14, 1862 three battles were fought for the possession of three mountain passes: Crampton’s, Turner’s and Fox’s Gaps – together, these became known as the Battle of South Mountain. Maj. General George B. McClellan was in hot pursuit of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. These hard fought battles led to the bloodiest one-day battle in American history three days later – The Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg). On September 17, 1862, the first major battle to take place on Northern soil, resulted in nearly 17,000 wounded soldiers. This momentous battle lead President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, reflecting a new focus on the conflict as a crusade for  human freedom.  The famous proclamation did not immediately free a single slave, but it set a course for freedom and the broadening of the nation’s ideals.

The Sesquicentennial is your chance to visit our region for the first time or come back and rekindle your passion and interest in Civil War history. Besides exciting reenactments, discover new interpretation along Civil War Trails and at sites such as the historic Newcomer House at Antietam National Battlefield. Opened in 2010, this farmhouse witnessed the battle 150 year ago and now serves as a visitor center, with exhibits featuring Civil War visitor experiences in the three Maryland counties that comprise the Heart of the Civil War: Carroll, Frederick and Washington. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to see the original Special Order #191, loaned by the Library of Congress, on exhibit at Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center in Frederick, MD.  And, be sure to visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, with locations in Frederick and Washington counties, which immerses visitors in stories of courage, care and compassion, and medical innovations still practiced today.   These are just a few ways to experience the Maryland Campaign 150^th.  Numerous towns and villages, museums, battlefields, parks and heritage festivals stand ready to welcome you to the Heart of the Civil War.