Monocacy National Battlefield

on July 9, 1864, the Battle of Monocacy Junction was fought on what is now the Monocacy National Battlefield Park, located in Frederick County at 4801 Urbana Pike.  Map.  The battle became known as “The Battle That Saved Washington” because  it ended up being the last battle that the Confederates fought in Union territory.

The battlefield was acquired by the National Park Service in 1970, and the historic Thomas Farm was acquired in 2001.  In the decades following the battle, a few veterans organizations placed commemorative markers to specific units on the battlefield, including the 14th New Jersey (dedicated in 1907), the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry, and Vermont markers.  In later years the Maryland Centennial Monument and other Confederate Monuments were added.  The National Park Service has since added wayside interpretive markers throughout the park.

There is a Visitor Center at the historic Gambrill Mill on the west side of the Monocacy River with an electric map orientation program, an interactive computer program, interpretive displays, and artifacts of the battle.  National Park Service rangers and volunteers host battle walks, special programs, an auto tour and special events throughout the summer.  The interpretive Worthington Farm Trail is a pair of loops on the northern portion of the battlefield which allow visitors to walk parts of the battlefield.

The Monocacy National Battlefield is located in the center of a region with a number of other Civil War battlefields and sites.  Nearby are  Antietam National Battlefield to the east and  Gettysburg National Battlefield to the north.  To the south on U.S. 15 is the battlefield of Balls Bluff.