Heart of the Civil War

Carroll 250 Event: Braddock’s Tars: The Sailors of the Braddock Expedition
2026-07-28 18:00 (America/New_York) | Carroll County Public Library – North Carroll Branch, 2255 Hanover Pike, Hampstead, MD, 21074, United States
A little known party of thirty-three Royal Navy sailors marched with Braddock’s army in the 1755 expedition to attack Fort Duquesne that ended as a disastrous failure on the banks of the Monongahela. In Braddock’s Tars: Common Sailors and the Braddock Expedition, Kyle Dalton will use their story as a lens to look at the larger picture of common sailors in the British Atlantic World and discuss what we can learn from ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
Registration is required. Please register here.

World Ranger Day 2026!
2026-07-31 12:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Monocacy National Battlefield hosts World Ranger Day 2026! Join as they celebrate World Ranger Day, an international observance of Park Rangers of all backgrounds and jobs dedicated to natural and cultural landmarks the world over. This family-friendly, hands-on event will include meet and greets with Park Rangers from across the state and region. Displays of equipment, vehicles, and other exhibits. As well as games, activities and crafts!

Tolson's Chapel Open House
2026-08-01 10:00 | Tolson’s Chapel, 111 E. High St., Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Open House 10am – 2pm.
Tolson’s Chapel is open the first Saturday of every month between April and October. Onsite docent(s) will explain the historical significance of Tolson’s Chapel from its inception in 1866 as the spiritual and educational center of a vibrant and newly freed community of African American families in Sharpsburg, MD.

One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-08-01 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-09 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-15 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-16 12:00 - 13:30 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Explore the incredible Civil War history in Downtown Frederick with expert guides from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. from April until September, docents from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will explain how Frederick became “One Vast Hospital.” Arguably the most trying moment in city’s history came after the Battle of Antietam in the fall of 1862. The town’s population doubled when 8,000 wounded soldiers were delivered by ambulance to make-shift hospitals throughout Frederick. Walking tours last for an hour to an hour and a half.
Tickets are $15 and include admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in addition to the walking tour. Tickets are free for Museum members, but you must still reserve your spot. Reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
Contact Chris Reed at chris.reed@civilwarmed.org for more information.

55th Annual Old Fashioned Corn Roast
2026-08-01 11:00 | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Each meal ticket includes a serving of fried chicken, applesauce, sliced tomatoes, roll and butter, iced tea or lemonade and all the roasted corn that you can eat! Corn is roasted in the husk served at your table.
Other Attractions: Musical Entertainment by the Martin Brothers Gift Shop and Blacksmith Shop open Tours of the historic House and Mill for a fee (11 am – 4 pm). Adult – $22; 12 years and under – $10. Please note: there will be a 50¢ credit card fee per ticket.

"Ancestors at Antietam" - Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland
2026-08-01 14:00 | Antietam Institute Education Center, 101 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Join the Antietam Institute on Saturday, August 1, to learn about the Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland by Institute member and relic collector, Kevin Boyer. The Union Veterans’ Association of Maryland was a Civil War veteran’s organization unique to this state. The presentation will discuss the history, badges, ribbons, and ephemera of this group. Several Maryland soldiers (who participated in the Maryland Campaign) whose likeness is shown on some of the UVA of MD badges will be highlighted during the talk.
Howard (Kevin) Boyer grew up surrounded by the history and places of the Maryland Campaign. This fostered an ardent interest in the Civil War and local history. He began collecting Civil War artifacts and ephemera at an early age. Kevin graduated from Boonsboro High School and attended Hagerstown Junior College and the University of Maryland at College Park. He retired in 2021 from Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, MD. Following retirement, he became an Antietam Ambassador at Antietam National Battlefield, a member of the Antietam Institute, and a docent at the Boonsboro Museum of History.
These monthly “Ancestors at Antietam” talks are free and open to the public – anyone may attend – and you do not need to register. The talks will be held at the Institute’s Education Center at 101W Main Street, Sharpsburg, beginning at 2 pm.

Storytime in the Park
2026-08-03 09:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
Join the South Mountain Recreation Area for an all-ages, all-abilities story time at rotating parks! Ages 6 months and up, must be accompanied by a caregiver. Enjoy a nature-themed book and activity. Meet under the War Correspondents Arch.

Meet a Tree
2026-08-03 10:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
Learn how to really “see” trees and improve your ability to identify and appreciate them. Meet at pavilion near War Correspondents Arch in Gathland State Park, 10AM.

Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign – Benjamin L. Cwayna
2026-08-03 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
As Lee’s victorious army pivoted away from the bloody field at Manassas and crossed over the Potomac, a simmering feud between Stonewall Jackson and his staff on one side and A.P. Hill and his South Carolina Brigade on the other, took center stage. Multiple arrests, accusations, innuendo, and other high drama played out as the army approached its most critical fight of the war along the banks of the Antietam. With so much on the line that Fall, egos and critical decisions both on and off the field would help define a campaign and set in motion a series of events that saved Lee’s army in an obscure 40-acre cornfield. Join us on August 3, as Benjamin L. Cwayna presents – “Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign.“
Benjamin L. Cwayna is an attorney in private practice and a prominent leader in the Civil War reenacting and living history community. For many years, Ben commanded the 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc., a nationally recognized reenacting organization. He has been featured on the “Addressing Gettysburg Podcast” with Matt Callery. He has dedicated his life to preserving the memory of the Civil War through living history demonstrations, presentations, and tours on numerous battlefields. A graduate of Michigan State University and Michigan State University College of Law, Benjamin resides with his son, Grant, in Grand Ledge, Michigan. An active member of the community, Cwayna is a member and past president of the Grand Ledge Rotary Club, a volunteer coach, and participant in numerous other civic organizations. Ben is the author of The Invincible Twelfth: The 12th South Carolina Infantry of the Gregg-McGowan Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. published by Savas Beatie in 2025.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

A Quiet Hike
2026-08-04 12:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Enjoy a “hidden gem” trail in Greenbrier on a quiet group hike. Meet in lower parking lot by boat launch ramp in Greenbrier Park. Hike will be on paved and natural trails, approx. 1 mile, beginner-friendly! 6PM

Nature Prints Walk
2026-08-04 14:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Take a walk partway around Greenbrier Lake and make unique prints of your discoveries to take home. 2PM meet at the trail head near gazebo #1 in the day-use area of Greenbrier State Park.

Elevated Architecture Double Decker Bus Tour
2026-08-08 10:00 | The Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E Church St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Heritage Frederick is excited to partner with Maryland Double Deckers to bring you an all new history experience! Most people walk through Downtown Frederick with absolutely no awareness of what’s happening above their own eyebrows, which is precisely how gargoyles gain confidence. This tour aims to correct that.
Many of the defining features of historic Downtown Frederick’s charming architecture are found high above the streets in upper stories, cornices, and spires. Discover beautifully preserved examples of commercial, residential, religious, and public buildings displaying major American and European styles that span more than two centuries. Along the way, we’ll explore how the history of Frederick is told by the enduring structures that witnessed it.
Recurring program: Saturdays: June 13, July 11, August 8 10-11:30am Sundays: September 13, October 11 2-3:30pm

Freedom of the Press in 2026
2026-08-08 18:00 | Frederick Book Arts Center, 127 S. Carroll St., Frederick, MD, 21701
A talk and discussion about press freedom in America in 2026.

A Longer Quiet Hike
2026-08-09 09:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Enjoy a peaceful, quiet group hike on a less-populated trail in Greenbrier. Hike is ~1.25 miles on maintained trails. Beginner/intermediate difficulty. 9AM. Registration required- please contact SMRA.Interpreter@maryland.gov.

Surgeon Charles Tripler: A Re-Examination of an Overlooked Civil War Medical Pioneer
2026-08-09 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for a special Sunday Speaker Event! Drawing on extensive original research, Jack Dempsey traces Charles S. Tripler’s distinguished career from the Seminole and Mexican-American Wars to his service as a Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac. Dempsey demonstrates how Tripler’s innovations in military medicine and battlefield care saved countless lives, and also how politics undermined and obscured his achievements. The talk is based on the book, “His Sword A Scalpel,” a publication by the Michigan Civil War Association, and copies will be available for signing.

“No Further Record” POWs of the 7th Michigan Infantry – Jack Dempsey
2026-08-10 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Mauled in the West Woods during the II Corps’ ill-conceived assault by echelon, the 7th Michigan Infantry lost 221 out of 402 combatants. Some casualties are well-known, such as John A. Clark, whose grave Bill Frassinito identified, and Allen H. Zacharias, whose poignant note tears at the heart. What was the fate of those in that number who were captured or missing? Join author, editor, and historian Jack Dempsey as he delves into their story to reveal answers and to examine why the inquiry bears investigation during his talk on August 10.
Jack Dempsey has been a student of the Civil War since the Centennial. His name appears on 8 Civil War titles as author or editor, including the award-winning Michigan and the Civil War (2011), the most recognized single volume on that subject. Co-written with Brian James Egen, Michigan at Antietam (2015) was the pioneer study of the Wolverine State’s role in the Maryland Campaign of 1862. The two historians co-founded the Michigan Civil War Association in 2013 to advance understanding of Michigan’s role in the nation’s greatest crisis. Jack first visited Antietam in 1973 with two fellow congressional interns. He returned there with his new bride in 1975. In 2012, as chairperson of the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, he was a part of the State’s commemoration of “Michigan Day at Antietam” at the invitation of the National Park Service. The MCWA is working with the NPS to erect a Michigan monument at the epicenter of the Antietam battlefield. Like the Institute, the MCWA publishes an annual monograph as part of a series of studies on the Civil War. The fifth will appear, as per custom, close to September 17th of this year. In addition to being an accomplished writer, he is a longtime contributor to the American Battlefield Trust. All proceeds from Jack’s Civil War writings, including his biography of Alpheus Starkey Williams, support the MCWA.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Interpreting South Mountain
2026-08-11 12:00, 2026-08-11 18:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
South Mountain is part of the oldest mountain range in North America. How have people interacted with this mountain through history? What can we learn about our own present and future here? Meet at War Correspondents Arch in Gathland State Park. Hike is approx. 0.6 miles on wooded trail, beginner-friendly.

An Evening with Toby Mendez
2026-08-12 19:00 | National Road Museum, 214 N. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Join the National Road Museum on the evening of Wednesday, August 12, as they welcome acclaimed sculptor Toby Mendez to speak at the museum about his career, notably the works he has created for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Clara Barton monument near Hagerstown City Park, and the George Washington sculpture being unveiled in Hagerstown this coming September.

Art in the Park- Frogs!
2026-08-13 17:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Learn about some of the beautiful frogs native to Maryland while touring their habitat. Paint some jumping frogs to take home! Meet in lower parking lot by boat launch ramp in Greenbrier Park. Walk will be 0.25 miles beside the lake ending at gazebo #4. 5PM

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: 1876 The Centennial Celebration & America’s First World’s Fair
2026-08-13 18:30 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This talk, presented by Jim Shriver (HSCC Board of Trustees President), will cover how the USA celebrated the Centennial and the significance of a World’s Fair. Local and Maryland participants in the Philadelphia Exposition (The World’s Fair) will be included and local events held to commemorate 1876 will also be highlighted.

Living History Weekend
2026-08-15 11:00 | Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, 1611 N Market St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Experience themed demonstrations and exhibits highlighting different eras of history. Stop by for the FSK Antique Car Show on Saturday to enjoy antique cars, antique fire apparatus, vendors, and more.

Carroll 250 Event: Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration
2026-08-15 13:00 | Carroll County Public Library – Eldersburg Branch, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg, Maryland, 21784
One woman, Mary Katharine Goddard, Katy to her family and friends, risked treason by signing her full name on the Declaration of Independence along with all the male signatories. Who was she, and why was she tasked with such an important job? Author Betty Bolte will share how she came to know Katy despite the absence of personal information. Find out more about Katy, the inspiring and respected woman who signed the Declaration of Independence. Ms. Bolte’s book, Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence, will be available for sale and signing.
If you plan to attend, please register here.

Civil War Drumming: The Stirring Music That Inspired Civil War Soldiers
2026-08-15 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Accomplished drummer Patrick Jones will discuss the role of drums and fifes in the military during the Civil War, as well as drum construction and makers. After exploring the various tasks musicians performed during the war, including helping with wounded removal, Patrick will play a number of stirring tunes used by the armies of both sides. He will also have original drums on hand to view.
Patrick Jones has been playing Civil War drums with various organizations since he was 13 years old. He gives frequent presentations on the topic and also creates museum-quality reproduction drums and their associated accouterments. When not drumming, he teaches 5th grade Social Studies and Science at the Upper St. Clair School district in Pittsburgh, Pa. Learn more about Patrick at rudimentsandrope.com

Storytime in the Park
2026-08-17 09:00 | Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd, Middletown, MD, 21769
Take a walk partway around Greenbrier Lake and make unique prints of your discoveries to take home. Enjoy a nature-themed book and activity. Meet in front of the Washington Monument museum.
