America's National Parks Store at Antietam National Battlefield — Local services in Shepherdstown

Sadly my trip into the area caused me to arrive after 5pm on July 3,2019. So I wasn’t able to go into the visitors center. That being said, thank you National Park Service for leaving the park open until dusk. My wife and I were able to walk and drive through a lot of the battlefield area. The grass was high in a lot of the area, which I loved because it gave the sensation of how things probably looked during the battle. The bugs were pretty annoying, but that’s no biggie. There was also a stage and about 100 port-o-potties set up behind the visitors center. All this was ugly and deterred from the reverence of the area. But I’m assuming there are activities going on for the 4th of July, so I guess it’s good that the land is being used for other things. There was very little, of really any, gift shops or tourist attractions around. I’m guessing most people probably visit Gettysburg perhaps Antietam is somewhat overlooked as a tourist destination. Overall, if you enjoy lovely parks or civil war history, than this is a great place to visit. Even...

Having been to Gettysburg and Manassas, I expected a similar experience. But Antietam is uniquely beautiful and moving. The National Park visitors' center includes a small museum, gift shop, and, best of all, a raised space with large, floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the battlefield--gorgeous in summertime, especially. Back in my car, I followed the tour road--11 stops or stations in all. My favorites are the corn field and the Sunken Road, where the Rebels tried and failed to withstand the hard-charging Union. To stand in these places, in the warm sunshine of a 21st century day, is to be overwhelmed with gratitude and a sense of grace. The men in blue who fought and died here gave all of us a gift, one that can only be repayed by our vigilance in rejecting tyranny and working even harder to...

The entire experience was well curated. You pay for the experience at the Welcome center where you can watch a documentary about the battlefield, check out the observatory and walk through the museum. There is a giftshop as well if you are wanting any keepsakes. The self drive tour is well marked. There are many statues and memorials to see in between each stop. There are areas to park at each one. If you like to walk, there are trails too. I spent approximately 3-4 hours here. I would have liked to have walked some trails but it was too cold and I had a 1 year old with me. I recommend packing snacks or a lunch as there was not a convenient place to grab a bite during my time there. Overall a great experience with many...