a monument of a soldier at sunset

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

Silhouette of a man with backpack standing on McAfee Knob at sunset with mountains in the distance.

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

Wild horses on the dunes at Assateague

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

Gladys Noon Spellman sign on the Baltimore Washington Parkway

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.

A heron at sunset in the waters and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

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

Rock formation with mountains in the background

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 rushing river cascades over the rocks of the Potomac

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

A view of docks and boats in the waterside town of Cape Charles VA

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

Historic Fort Davis

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

two and half story wooden frame house with double porch and stone corner posts.

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

A cannon in front of fall leaves

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.

Fort McHenry

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

Entrance way into historic Fort Washington

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

Stone Bridge Along the George Washington Memorial Parkway

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

groups of families, adults and children strolling in Glen Echo Park near Carousel Building

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

Tent in the Greenbelt Park campground

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 Mansion in the Fall

Hampton

Hampton National Historic Site preserves what remains of a once 25,000-acre enslavement plantation. For hundreds of years, enslaved people, indentured servants, tenant farmers, paid laborers, and the Ridgely family all made their own contributions to

Flowers on a tree with a large brick house in the background.

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

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

Girl stands on a bridge overlooking the marshlands.

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

Federal style house with trees behind it during the fall season.

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 brown cows graze in a field

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

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

A man, woman and child stand overlooking a valley of mountains and trees on a sunny summer day.

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!

A tall ship sails on the water.

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,

5 part Mansion at Haberdeventure

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

Flag marking the trail

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