Touring the Brand New Antietam Visitor Center!

After 940 days the National Park Service has completed their renovation project of the Visitor Center at Antietam National Battlefield. Park Ranger Keith Snyder gives us a tour of the new facility with Garry Adelman! #antietamtour
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@peterblum613]

I've been to many battlefields. Antietam is my favorite for the beauty of the countryside, how little it has changed since the 1860s, and how it is not overrun by tourists. Hike a 10-mile loop around it, and you are totally immersed. There is a definite spookiness caused by the above factors, combined with the memory of what happened.

[@FordHoard]

I stopped there with my Dad on the way back from the Gettysburg anniversary reenactment this year, and it was so quiet and peaceful at Antietam.

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

I was there about 30 years ago with a friend. It looks like time for another visit.

[@mlbrooks4066]

The locals have been very careful to protect the history there all these years. A lot of them are descended from the residents of Sharpsburg who went thru the battle.

[@scarecrow6176]

My wife and I was there yesterday and we both enjoyed out time at this historical place.

[@DrummerDanVa]

Recently visited Fredricksburg, Manassas, and Chancellorville battlefields but have been waiting for the new visitor's center at Antietam. This is great news!

[@michelehumphrey852]

That view alone is worth the membership to the American Battlefield Trust🇺🇸

[@user-tw5km5mv2h]

Brings back memories of our family visits when our kids were little in the70s

[@johnswon963]

Thank you Garry for your role in helping to keep our history alive

[@Bodiddley788]

Gary, I'm a professor at Ole Miss, and have always wanted to learn more about the American Civil War, and thanks to this channel I am doing so. My GG Grandfather fought with the Mississippi 7th Company I. He survived the war, and surrendered somewhere I believe in North Carolina.

[@davidlong1503]

He surrendered at Durham Station...

[@jeffrey7938]

I have visited Antietam twice. Standing in Bloody Lane, I was in awe of the men who fought there and felt a deep sadness for the men who died right there, piled up waist high.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

To see where we are going we must understand and learn from where we have been. Well done to the NPS for the renovation and of course the presentation by Keith, Garry and the ABT.

[@simpilot8508]

My ancestor fought with the 2nd Louisiana Infantry at Antietam with Starke's Brigade at the Hagerstown Turnpike, he survived and went on to be killed at Gettysburg at Culps Hill.

[@mitchsegal8372]

I live a mile from the battlefield and am on it daily. I’ve watched this project from the beginning. Keith and his team have done a wonderful job in making over the Center. A lot of infrastructure work was needed before exhibit work could be done. Everyone should come and learn the story of this battle.

[@jasonwilliamson8416]

I'm really looking forward to making it back to Antietam in the near future. I've been there 6 times but it's been quite a while. It holds a special place for me as I had two great great uncles that faced off against each other in the Cornfield.

[@davidmurray5399]

I was there in September of 1997, I remember the 'old' Visitor Center. I was in my Union Civil War uniform[my Great-Great Grandfather served in the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry]as I had been at a reenactment all that morning, and the other people in the building thought I was an employee, as the heel-taps on my brogans clattered on the floor as I walked around. Antietam was one of the last Civil War engagements where the armies could view one another as the formations moved, met and fought across the battle area.

[@danq.5140]

I enjoyed my visit back 10 years ago. A very somber feel to the whole area, knowing how many souls perished there.

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

I've visited most all of the major battlefields from Bentonville to Gettysburg and the only that ever bothered me was Manassas and that was 40 years. Funny how that goes.

[@johnportanova2583]

Can't wait to re visit Antietam I was there back in 2015 or so

[@anderstietz809]

Fun watching Garry getting all geeked out about the new visitor center facilities.

[@texmexfla]

Love the newly renovated National Park Service (NPS) visitor center and can not wait to visit! Thanks to the American Battlefield Trust and NPS for this video preview!

[@psinclairjr]

What a great facility! I Thank each of you for the dedication to the Hallowed Ground and the education our society so desperately needs about what occured there. As a side, the subtle respect the Ranger is showing is quite impressive

[@tomdynia9951]

I'm excited to see the renovated visitor's center, will be even more excited when I'm there in September. Good to see Keith again who I remember from many battlefield hikes. His knowledge and passion are second to none.

[@nathanapodaca3456]

Gary looks like a kid visiting a candy factory, I love it 😂 Super excited to visit

[@pitthistoryguy1301]

Yes please come visit our beloved Antietam! What a wonderful renovation by the park staff. Also I highly recommend using one of the Antietam Battlefield Guides and attending the Antietam Institute Spring Seminar and Fall Conference.

[@bobs1728]

Antietam, "That Field of Blood".

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for sharing this. Really looking forward to getting back out there and seeing the new facility.

[@clarkbuckner4900]

Glad Mr.Snyder is still there!

[@Shoupdawoop]

I just missed this! I visited Antietam for the first time after the 2023 teacher conference.

[@TermiteUSA]

As a 12 yr old in May,1962 my parents, with grandparents in tow, took me and two kid friends to Gettysburg. It was a great day sandwiched in between cruising in dad's new Chris Craft on the Chesapeake. We liked it so much that when dad found out about the Antietam 100 reenactment he planned another weekend away from the water. I remember we parked in a field near enough to the battery close to Dunkard Church that the sound bothered my mother but we could watch the gun crews at work and thru the smoke see some of the assaults on Bloody Lane. Ive been there many times since but those first encounters with fields like these always stand out. Congrats on the new building.

[@Stevenp1863]

Great effort by so many. Congratulations to all. A very, very special place that is so deserving of this love and new found inspiration. Thank you all!!

[@rachaelday6154]

Garry, I love that you still get so excited about all of this!

[@tommymitchell2306]

Gary is a great guy!

[@jamesmurphy9346]

I lived in Western Maryland and visited Antietam a few times. Glad to see the upgrades. Still remember seeing a Shaving Kit that a Union solider had lost in a previous battle that was found at Antietam on a Confederate dead. Also the rifle pits that were still evident near a Bridge. If I ever get back that way again I'll pay a visit. Thanks for the memories.

[@marvwatkins7029]

An impressive facility, a vast improvement, indeed, as long as AC is installed and works. Maryland gets awfully hot and humid in the summer.

[@milepost465historyhobbies4]

That’s really awesome! Antietam was the first large battlefield I visited. The ranger that gave the talk in that observation room left a huge impression on me and allowed me to understand that battle so much more. Truly inspired work going on there! Thank you !

[@stevetrimborn3739]

My son and i visited July 2022 and genuinely loved the visit.

[@joeydiamond831]

Thx Gary... I was there the end of May while it was still under construction.... can't wait to return

[@mlbrooks4066]

I used to volunteer there, for ten years. I can’t wait to see it.

[@HatCreekMan57]

We were there in 2009.I would like to go back and see it now.

[@baronpen]

At about 0:14, when Garry says he's "super excited to be here," is he ever NOT super excited? 😁

[@blakebufford6239]

No. Never. He is the cool in cucumber.

[@tumbleweed2240]

Major Garry geek out 😂❤❤

[@Sherman1862]

September 17th, 1862!!!! Awesome Tour... Thank You!!! I'm sipping water with lemon out of my new "American Battlefield Trust Water Bottle... Hurrah!!!! ; )

[@RRM13]

Cool, cool, cool. Congratulations! Well done! Hello from Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Gary "Good Good" Adelman is probably America's foremost (and certainly the most excitedly enthusiastic) living Civil War expert (sorry historians and history professors). All of which I say "good, good"!

[@foobitt1]

Hey Gary it was so great to meet you on this day.Thanks so much for taking a picture with us.We felt like we met a rock star😜 Keep up the great work👍

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

You too!!

[@TermiteUSA]

Gary IS a rock star!

[@samgray2589]

So happy that these important places are so greatly cared for! Thank you Battlefield Trust and National Park Service!

[@SMTraz]

Beautiful enhanced center! Can't wait to visit.

[@jebbthetrainkid1281]

Big Improvement from the Old Museum. Can't wait to stop by and check it out. It's such a great and well preserved Civil War Battlefield that is pretty much untouched.

[@liberalman8319]

They should do videos on all civil war visitor centers.

[@Jangolfin]

I would so like to come to visit there and make such a photo safari myself. Such a remarkable new visitor center and the historic battlefield itself is such an important place to be seen and to be visited.

[@michaelhoffman5348]

Thanks Guys - was at Antietam last in 2021, and of course, the center was closed. Looking forward to a return trip!

[@josephcastelo6127]

A family group visited Antietam just a week or so before the new center opened. I consider going back to see it a must. Like many other people I think Antietam is the best preserved and observable battlefield in the eastern theatre of the war. I found Gettysburg and the Richmond Area battlefields very sadly disappointing compared to past decades I visited. Cold Harbor and Fredericksburg are particularly neglected. And Spotsylvania battle field has virtually disappeared.

[@UncleSam-nu4ql]

Can't wait to come back to Antietam. I was there right before covid. Dunker church was open and I went in and sat in a pew. I'll be sure to see the newly renovated visitor center.

[@danwoodliefphotography871]

I was very impressed with the new visitor center. The bookstore has so much more to intice me now. My wife would say too much. The casualty lightup display is particularly effective in portraying the cost of this battle.

[@tberkoff]

Can we now relocate the Visitor Center off some of the most important and bloodiest ground on the battlefield? It's too bad the NPS has decided to double down on the building with this renovation and even increase its footprint. I realize Antietam doesn't have the financial support that Gettysburg has when Gettysburg relocated its VC, but the VC location at Antietam would be equivalent to putting the Gettysburg VC directly on Cemetery Ridge next to the Copse of Trees.

[@tumbleweed2240]

I agree, but that horse has left the barn

[@tberkoff]

@@tumbleweed2240 Yes it has.

[@bobhanson6586]

So nice to see the investment in restoring and modernizing these centers. Last spring, I spent a month touring a broad sweep of over 40 major sites, and it was evident the effort was paying off. Donnellson, Shiloh, Corinth, Antietam, Gettysburg all had major projects in action. Thank You! Money well spent.

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

There should be a lot more of it coming from the government.

[@georgepress1261]

First time visiting Antietam was this past July. Visitor center was close, but beautiful landscape, hard to believe that 23,000 was kill, wounded and missing

[@stephen3548]

Looks great, folks. Can't wait to visit.

[@paulhendershot111]

Fantastic video, Gary. We visited Antietam last summer and went through the temporary building that was in use, but I can't wait to get back there to see the remodeled visitor center.

[@trochartist]

I can’t wait to go back👍

[@JasonAlexander-uz4ns]

Very nicely done. Great presentation and informational comments 👍

[@tonyk1584]

Good Good

[@fciimd]

Looks very good; big improvement.

[@31stvirginia]

I am a reenactor and when I found this it was like 5 seconds before I subscribed

[@RedneckDeluxe]

I went to Gettysburg few months ago. That visitor center is nice too. Got to make my way to Antietam soon.

[@ElectrikNYCfunK]

lol Tim really did use the perfect word in describing Garry 🤣🤣🤣 edit: He used "Frantic" lol

[@tyrian_baal]

The Liberty Rifles and other groups helped with a new film for this visitor center, you'll get to see the most authentic group to date

[@woodsy9682]

I will be there in March can't wait

[@karensanford993]

Can’t wait to see the new center! It looks great!

[@danitenotes]

Wow! I was literally there last weekend! The new visitor center is impressive!

[@edwardmoran1739]

Sacred place, thank you!

[@denniscallaghan6597]

can't wait to see it on the anniversary!

[@adamkinnaman6889]

I can not wait to go see this!

[@topazstars7734]

Hey it’s good to see everything come together!

[@terryeustice5399]

Funny that Tim did a video earlier about interactions with you in early 90’s Now your on talking on antietam at new visitors center. Thank you also for sharing. 💯👍👊

[@bottomlesspit7]

I was there last year while it was still being worked on! Can't wait to return!

[@e_skie2685]

Hope they still have the old interactive map that showed how the battle unfolded.

[@eltonjohnson1724]

The Visitor Center looks great. I was there years ago when the battlefield was more impressive than the Visitors' Center. Now, it looks like both are terrific for visiting.

[@ronquixote1739]

The braille on the tactile map is all lower case even though the print is all upper case. On the plus side, the braille is contracted and it looks to be extremely durable.

[@hoag2531]

Wow. Glad it’s finished! Can’t wait to visit again!

[@whitechickencowwow]

I was there a few weeks ago, a week before they open. I wish I could have waited for this to open. I will be back I promise

[@gehmangang8006]

Can not wait to visit next month!

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

We might have toured the visitor's center on a family trip in the late 1980s? I remember recounting a story thst we MIGHT have an ancestor who fought there? I loved walking around parts of the battlefield. A happy accident brought me face to face to a product made in our new home city. Was surprised and proud that a product made here was in place like that. I wonder how many people have seen it? Wondered and researched it?

[@chichilersm3186]

1:36 is my favorite part

[@porcine83]

Looks amazing, I look forward to visiting in person.

[@kevin6293]

They should attach a watchtower to the Visitor Center. It’s in a perfect location on top of a hill between the Cornfield and Bloody Lane.

[@genes.3285]

There's too much infrastructure the way it is.

[@dbn52]

My Trip to Gettysburg now has a detour down route 70. Sure Hubby won't mind this detour. So excited

[@e-4airman124]

thank you

[@calebmjones1993]

absolutely awesome cant wait!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

love a good visitor center.

[@SwisstedChef2018]

Very nice.

[@donswain7859]

Will be there Saturday 😊

[@ldg1030]

The new building looks beautiful ❤

[@Moremoney4ewu]

Great job guys!

[@donb7113]

It’s a very nice visitors center. I didn’t know about the upstairs though.

[@tumbleweed2240]

Tactile map needs colored lights for electric map feel! Hey Antietam staff: how about making a Clara Barton interpretive trail up there at the Poffenberger Farm? So much to talk about up there.

[@celticnorthman3615]

Glorious!!!!!!

[@gregorybaltzer2736]

Was there i 1993..bout time i returned

[@suzannesilvia3658]

Awesome

[@DH.2016]

Impressive upgrade! 👍

[@michaelparness2896]

I went as a kid (probably around 10) with a summer camp, I saw a man dressed as confederate soldier clear as day, looked away, and when I turned back, he was halfway in a tree and then completely gone.

[@northerngentleman3643]

can you imagine watching this Garry guy in an airport or worse yet on a plane,,talk about supspicious behavior

[@lowellwhite1603]

Great news. Last time I was at Antietam, the visitor's center was closed due to the renovation. I'm glad it is back as I plan to return there and Gettysburg within the next several weeks. It looks like the handicapped elevator to the basement is no longer there. That is a disappointment as I have mobility issues and stairs are a problem but I may make it as there are not many. Since it was closed so long, I was expecting more and bigger but I will see it soon enough. Too bad Little Round Top wont be open for another year.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

The elevator is still there!

[@jacquelinebloom4339]

Well done!

[@richardglady3009]

Thank you.

[@blakebufford6239]

I'm saving my money so I can go there someday.