Heart of the Civil War

The Battle of Henry House Hill at 1st Bull Run
2026-08-29 10:00 (America/New_York) | Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center Street, Westminster, MD, 21157
Aug. 29th, Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM and Aug. 30th, Sunday 10 AM-3 PM
Battle reenactments will be Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 P.M.
The Battle of Henry House Hill at 1st Bull Run
The battle scenario will depict one of the climatic engagements of the 1st Battle of Bull Run/Manassas in 1861 where Stonewall Jackson earned his famous nickname by standing like a “stone wall.” The battle will feature the color and confusion of early Civil war units as both sides learn how to be soldiers while under fire for the first time.
Throughout the day Reenactors in full costume will demonstrate infantry drilling, artillery firing and camp life. Please note that the Camp will close at 2 PM on Sunday. Food is available for purchase at the event.
Admission: $10 per family, $5 per adult, $4 per senior (60 & over) FREE Parking.

“Make me a Map” The Creation of the Artillery Atlas of Antietam – Aaron Holly & Jim Rosebrock
2026-08-24 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Captain Albert Monroe who commanded a Federal battery at Antietam believed that “the value of the light artillery in the army as a factor in the suppression of the Rebellion, has never been accorded that credit to which it is entitled.” James Rosebrock and Aaron Holley have partnered to set the record straight by creating a visual record of the employment of artillery in the Maryland Campaign. The Artillery Atlas of Antietam explores the contribution of the artillery in the Maryland Campaign and presents new insights through the lens of topography, geography, and the words of those who made history. Join the Antietam Institute on August 24, to meet authors, Aaron Holley and James Rosebrock during their talk, “Make me a Map”: The Creation of the Artillery Atlas of Antietam.
Aaron Holley is a native West Virginian and lifelong Civil War enthusiast. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 2013 followed by a Master of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in forest biometrics in 2015, both from West Virginia University. Upon graduation, Aaron entered the field of forest conservation consulting, working in forest ecosystems both domestically and internationally. His education and work experience introduced him to the concept of modern mapping and geospatial analysis, which led him to extensively map the Antietam battlefield beginning in 2019. The result of this mapping process was published both as a wall map and as a GPS-enabled digital map. In 2024, Aaron was invited to become a member of the board of directors for the Antietam Institute, where he assists with all things cartography. He has produced maps for several publications related to Antietam, including An Ornament to His Country, Roads to Antietam, The Artillery of Antietam and The Antietam Journal and is a co-author of the upcoming The Artillery Atlas of Antietam. Aaron lives in Fisher, Hardy County, West Virginia with his wife, daughter, and son.
Born in Buffalo New York, Jim received his undergraduate history degree in Russian history from Niagara University in 1976. He was commissioned in the US Army that year and held command and staff positions for nine years from 1976 to 1985 in the United States and Germany. His final assignment on active duty was with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Grenada in 1983 with the division staff as part of Operation Urgent Fury. He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University in 2002 where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy. As an Army Reserve officer, Jim’s final assignment was as an instructor for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He retired in 2004 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Jim worked at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for 30 years, serving as Chief of the Security and Emergency Programs Division and subsequently as the Department of Justice’s liaison to FEMA during major disasters. He has served as a National Park Service volunteer since 2007 and is a certified battlefield guide at Antietam National Battlefield. He led the guide service from 2011-2018 and is a co-founder of the Antietam Institute, where he currently serves as the Institute’s president. Jim completed his first book The Artillery of Antietam in 2023 and is currently working on an artillery atlas of the Maryland Campaign, scheduled for release in 2026. He lives with his family in Jefferson, Maryland.
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.

Music on the Millrace: Hayden Shaw and This Side of Pleasant
2026-08-23 15:00 | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Music on the Millrace offers a relaxed, inviting opportunity for members and friends to come out to enjoy the authentic beauty of the site, separate from our other major events.
This is a great time to enjoy an afternoon on the beautiful grounds of the Union Mills Homestead. Admission to the event is only $10. Under 12 are free! Food, beer and wine will be available to purchase. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. No outside alcohol may be brought into the event. Because we have to inspect any containers to ensure there is no alcohol, please refrain from bringing backpacks or coolers, although you are welcome to bring your own snacks.
Hayden Shaw and This Side of Pleasant
Hailing from right down the road, Hayden Shaw and his band This Side of Pleasant (as in Pleasant Valley) is thrilled to be back for another great day of Bluegrass! Hayden Shaw & This Side of Pleasant is a high-energy Bluegrass group comprised of some of Hayden’s best friends in Bluegrass. Last March they broke the attendance record for a Wehrly’s Auction House “Pickin’ and Biddin’” show. Hayden pulls from a wide array of influences and music genres to bring a fun and exciting bluegrass show that you won’t want to miss!

One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-08-23 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-22 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-16 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-15 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-09 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-01 10:30 - 11:00 and 6 more dates | 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.

Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam – Steven Eden
2026-08-17 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
On August 17, author Steven Eden will present “Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam.” Using examples from Antietam, and describe the factors that caused a unit to withdraw or stop advancing. Surprisingly, it was rarely because of casualties. In fact, it was fairly uncommon for a regimental commander to lose control of his unit because of fear; it happened much more often in the wake of some tactical success. Unit commanders typically weighed several factors when deciding to hold or withdraw. These include honor, exposure, ammunition, available cover, loss ratio, and support, among others. The talk will cover this “battlefield calculus” and show how it helps to explain the tactics of the Civil War.
Steven Eden served in the Army for 25 years, including a tour in Afghanistan. During service Steve was assigned to West Point as an instructor in the History Department, where he taught Military History among other subjects, and led several staff rides for senior officers. After retirement, Steve was employed as an instructor for the Department of Defense at Fort Meade; his duties included presenting the Maryland Campaign of 1862 as a case study to field grade officers. Steven has led close to two dozen staff rides to Antietam as part of this instruction. His new book Crisis at Antietam: The Cornfield and West Woods and the Opening Rounds of the Civil War’s Bloodiest Battle, September 17, 1862, published by Savas Beatie is due to come out in 2026. Steve currently resides in Manchester, MD, with my wife Kathleen.
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.

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

“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.

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.

"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.

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.

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!

The Most Terrible Experience during the War: Stonewall Jackson’s Winter Campaign to Bath, Hancock, and Romney – Timothy R. Snyder
2026-07-27 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
On July 27, local author Timothy R. Snyder will take a critical look at Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s controversial Bath-Romney Campaign, conducted in the winter of 1862. During the expedition, Jackson failed to achieve his objectives. Severe winter weather, an aggressive Union commander, and disgruntlement from a large portion of his command thwarted his plans. In the end, the Confederate high command intervened and reversed Jackson’s troop dispositions, which caused him to resign. The presentation will examine Jackson’s preparations and leadership during the campaign and the soundness of his decision to leave the majority of his army at Romney.
Timothy R. Snyder has a master’s degree in history from Shippensburg University. He is the author of Trembling in the Balance: the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal during the Civil War, which was published in 2011, and his most recent book, Stonewall Jackson’s Winter Operations: The Raids Against the C&O Canal and the Bath-Romney Campaign, which was published this year by Savas Beatie. He lives in Hagerstown, MD.
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.

Custer in the Maryland Campaign – Jim Hessler
2026-07-20 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Few names in American military history are as noteworthy and controversial as George Armstrong Custer. The year 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of his death at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The year 1862, however, marked the beginning of his rise as an officer in the Army of the Potomac. Join historian and LBG, Jim Hessler, on July 20, as we examine Custer’s role as a staff officer under George McClellan during the Maryland campaign and how that relationship impacted the rest of Custer’s life and meteoric career.
James Hessler is a historian, author, and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, where he has been interpreting the battle since 2003. He is the author or co-author of four books on the Gettysburg Campaign: Sickles at Gettysburg (2009), Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg (2015), Gettysburg’s Peach Orchard (2019), and his most recent release, The First Day at Gettysburg (2025). His work has earned several distinguished book awards, and he has also published articles in respected outlets such as Gettysburg Magazine.
Beyond his publications, Hessler co-created and hosts the popular Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, reaching a global audience of history enthusiasts. He has appeared as a public historian in major media such as the History Channel, NPR, Travel Channel, PCN-TV, and in programs and content development with the American Battlefield Trust.
Hessler is a frequent speaker for national and regional historical organizations. His willingness to tackle controversial subjects continues to spark discussion and deepen understanding of Gettysburg’s enduring story. Besides Gettysburg, Hessler has led battlefield tours at numerous sites across the country. He currently serves in a board or advisory capacity for Gettysburg History (Adams County Historical Society), Gettysburg Museum of History, and the Little Bighorn Associates.
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.

Dan Sickles at Gettysburg: The Story of the Civil War’s Most Notorious Amputated Leg
2026-07-18 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 their Saturday Speaker Series with Historian James Hessler and take a fascinating look at myth, lore, and facts surrounding Maj. Gen. Dan Sickles’ Gettysburg wounding and leg amputation. A Confederate solid shot at the Battle of Gettysburg shattered controversial Union General Dan Sickles’ right leg, and surgeons subsequently amputated the limb. Sickles’ leg bone was then donated to the fledgling Army Medical Museum, and he often visited his severed limb there. Sickles’ leg bone remains a popular museum relic more than 160 years later, and a replica is now on display at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Hessler will discuss the odyssey of Sickles’ amputated leg and how he used it to declare himself “the hero of Gettysburg.”
James Hessler is a historian, author, and Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. He is the author or co-author of four books on the Gettysburg Campaign: “Sickles at Gettysburg” (2009), “Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg” (2015), “Gettysburg’s Peach Orchard” (2019), and his most recent release, “The First Day at Gettysburg” (2025). Beyond his publications, Hessler co-created and hosts the popular Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, reaching a global audience of history enthusiasts.

“‘Your Golden Opportunity Is Gone?: General Meade & The Pursuit From Gettysburg” – Jen Murray
2026-07-13 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Between July 1-3, 1863, Major General George G. Meade led the Army of the Potomac in a victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, marking the army’s first significant battlefield victory to date. Upon hearing of the repulse of the Confederate forces at Gettysburg, northern civilians and newspapers rejoiced in Meade’s great victory. But such euphoria proved short-lived, and Meade’s decline in prominence came as rapidly as his ascent to command. By July 14, a mere eleven days following the battle’s climactic assault of Pickett’s Charge, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia rested on the south side of the Potomac River. Disappointment in Meade’s inability to destroy, not merely defeat, the southern forces spread throughout the North and defined the atmosphere in Washington, D.C. During the program, we will explore Meade’s leadership during the pursuit and consider the Army of the Potomac in these pivotal days following the Battle of Gettysburg. Join us on July 13 as Dr. Jennifer Murray presents, “‘Your Golden Opportunity Is Gone?: General Meade & The Pursuit From Gettysburg.”
Dr. Jennifer M. Murray is an Assistant Professor of History at Shepherd University and the Director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War. Her most recent publication is On A Great Battlefield: The Making, Management, and Memory of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1933-2023, published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2014 and printed as a second edition in 2023. Murray is currently working on a full-length biography of General George Meade, tentatively titled Meade at War. She is the co-editor of the forthcoming, “They Are Dead, And Yet They Live”: Civil War Memories in a Polarized America to be published by the University of Nebraska Press in February 2026. Prior to joining the faculty at Shepherd, Murray taught at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. A native of Maryland, Murray worked as a seasonal interpretive park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park for nine summers.
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.

Living History at the Museum
2026-07-11 11:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for living history! Members of the Blue and Gray Hospital Association will be in the Delaplaine Randall Conference Room describing the medical history of America’s bloodiest conflict. Dressed as members of the Union Medical Department and armed with period medical equipment, the unit brings a unique perspective to understanding the conflict.
The presentation is included with admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and FREE for NMCWM members.

162nd Commemoration of the Battle of Monocacy
2026-07-11 09:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Join rangers and volunteers as they commemorate the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Monocacy with real time hikes, along with military living history demonstrations. Rangers and living historians will work in tandem this year on different parts of the battlefield to provide a unique twist on traditional battlefield programming. Stay tuned for program/demonstration times.
