Monocacy National Battlefield
N 39° 22.652 W 077° 23.850
18S E 293492 N 4361414
Monocacy National Battlefield, located just south of the city of Frederick, Maryland, is the site of the strategic Civil War "Battle That Saved Washington". The Park offers scenic and interpretive hiking trails and a self-guided auto tour.
Waymark Code: WM4HDP
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 08/25/2008
Views: 57
The Frederick, Maryland, area is rich with Civil War History. We first visited this park a few years ago when we took our Boy Scout troop on a hike from the then visitor's center at the Gambrill Mill over to the Worthington House and back. It was a great hike and at each location we learned of the strategic importance of the July 9, 1864, Battle of Monocacy Junction. Known as “The Battle that Saved Washington, DC”, the day ended with a Union defeat but delayed Confederate Gen. Jubal Early's march to Washington, DC, long enough for the Union to reinforce the city's defenses. The Park Ranger enthralled us with his description of the hand to hand combat, and the volunteer at the Worthington House shared amazing stories of local families caught up in midst of the combat that day.
Since that visit, the Monocacy Battlefield area is greatly enlarged and a new visitor’s center has been built with an electric orientation map, interactive exhibits, artifacts and a bookstore. One of the outstanding features of the park is that the surrounding countryside has remained largely rural allowing for a more authentic representation of the area at the time of the Battle than is found at many other battle sites. Brochures for the self-guided hiking trails and an auto tour are available at the visitor’s center, or as downloads from the Park website.
Monocacy National Battlefield is located off I-270 on Route 355 (Urbana Pike) just south of the city of Frederick, Maryland. The Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center is open daily, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., closed only on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Ranger programs are offered at various times during the year and the park is the setting for many events coordinated with local Living History volunteers.
Please visit the Park’s website at (
visit link) for more detailed information about directions to and activities at the park.
At this time, there is no admission fee to visit the park. What a deal!
Gambrill Mill Trail trailhead: N39 22.036 W077 23.251
Best Farm: N 39 22.236 W077 23.919
Thomas Farm: N 39 21.420 W077 23.437
14th NJ Regiment Monument: N39 22.243 W077 23.554