130th Pennsylvania Monument at Bloody Lane
Antietam
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 Abraham Lincoln to issue the pre
McAfee Knob is one of the most popular locations along the A.T. to take photographs.
Appalachian
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the
There are few places in the United States where you can view wild horses.Take advantage of the opportunity to view these horses in a natural habitat.
Assateague Island
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and e
The parkway is dedicated for Gladys Noon Spellman
Baltimore-Washington
This 29-mile highway connects Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. The parkway has carried visitors to and from the capital city since 1954.
Many people visit Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to spot birds, like this heron, that rely the natural resources of the landscape.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake
People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age. As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian co
A challenging hike leads to Chimney Rock, the most popular vista in the park.
Catoctin Mountain
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created programs to give people a chance to rebuild their lives from the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps gave this land a second opportunity and through re-growth
The area of Great Falls is one of the reasons for the C&O Canal needed to be built for boat traffic.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products
Cape Charles on Virginia's lower Eastern Shore is a bayside gem with many opportunities for visitors to enjoy the water.
Chesapeake Bay
Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast r
Fort Davis (Fall Day)
Civil War Defenses of Washington
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batt
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Clara Barton
Clara Barton dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need - both home and abroad, in peacetime as well as during military emergencies. Glen Echo was her home the last 15 years of her life, and the structure illustrates her dedicati
Rodman gun at Fort Foote.
Fort Foote
Fort Foote was constructed in 1863 atop Rozier's Bluff to strengthen the ring of fortifications that encircled Washington, D.C. Two of the Guns that protected Washington are still there along with the remains of the fort's earthworks.
Blue Angels fly over Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
by the dawn's early light, a large red, white and blue banner? Whose broad stripes and bright stars... were so gallantly streaming...over Fort McHenry! The valiant defense of the fort during the Battle of Baltimore on September 13-14, 1814 inspired F
Fort Washington Entrance
Fort Washington
Built to defend the river approach to Washington, DC, Fort Washington has stood as silent sentry for over 200 years. As technologies advanced so did Fort Washington, from the brick and stone of the 19th century to the concrete and steel of the 20th c
George Washington Memorial Parkway
George Washington
The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place
Glen Echo Park and the Dentzel Carousel are enjoyed by children and adults.
Glen Echo
Glen Echo Park began in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly "to promote liberal and practical education." By 1911, it transformed into DC's premier amusement park until it closed in 1968. Since 1971, the National Park Service has owned and operate
Camp within 13 miles of the Nation's Capital
Greenbelt
Enjoy affordable camping, hiking, and peaceful forest surroundings just ten miles from Washington, DC!
Hampton Mansion in the Fall
Hampton
Hampton National Historic Site preserves the center of a once-vast Maryland plantation. A microcosm of the nation, it reflects two centuries of American social, historical, and economic development. Visitors can explore the estate, owned by seven gen
Harmony Hall is a two and a half story Georgian style house built in 1723.
Harmony Hall
The 18th century Harmony Hall mansion is located on a 62.5-acre open pasture land estate along the Potomac River. This estate was purchased by the National Park Service in 1966, to preserve southern Maryland cultural heritage. Surrounded by a rich la
View of Lower Town Harpers Ferry as seen from Maryland Heights
Harpers Ferry
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Site
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked her life to guide 70 enslaved people north to new li
The Worthington House is one of the most iconic locations on the battlefield.
Monocacy
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July 9, however, Federal soldiers outnumbered three to
Two Jersey cows graze in their pasture
Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm
The diverse history of Maryland and our national heritage can be experienced at Oxon Cove Park. Through hands-on programs and other activities, you can experience farm life and how its changed over time. Explore how the park evolved from a plantation
Building at National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park
Piscataway
Piscataway Park is home to bald eagles, beavers, deer, foxes, ospreys, and many other species. To complement the surroundings, the park has, in addition to a public fishing pier and two boardwalks over fresh water tidal wetlands, a variety of nature
Monroe Run Trailhead, Garrett County
Potomac Heritage
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
The PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II is a sailing ambassador for the Trail.
Star-Spangled Banner
For three years the young United States was embroiled in the War of 1812 and the Chesapeake Bay region felt the brunt of it, choked by shipping blockades and ravaged by enemy raids. Through sites and landscapes in Virginia, the District of Columbia,
Mansion at Haberdeventure
Thomas Stone
In 1776, Thomas Stone and 55 others signed the Declaration of Independence. In doing so, Stone risked his home, his family's security, and even his life. Stone supported the Declaration of Independence's promise of freedom. Yet he was also an enslave
Washington-Rochambeau NHT banner on 2nd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French Army joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the French Navy in support, the allied armies moved hundreds of miles to become the largest troop