Antietam in a Mini

A while ago, on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the battle, I visited Antietam in a mini.

While the battle may not be as famous as Gettysburg, the battlefield was a little easier to follow.  We went on the battlefield driving tour, in the mini, beginning at Dunker church and winding around the fields to bloody lane and the observation tower then Burnside Bridge and on to the Antietam National Cemetery.  And to the man who yelled that we were ignorant as we drove through his photo, that is what happens when you take a picture across a road.

It is fantastic that we can have momentous places preserved to such a degree.  The National Park Service has literally cleared the land so it would look much like it did in 1862 (Yay taxes!).  And the ranger discussion was phenomenal.  Also interesting is the fact that observation tower was built in the late 1800s; I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that those who lived through the events would want to revisit them but for some reason it was.  Later in the day, we saw mementos of many reunions in the early years after the war including buttons and banners at the Pry House Field Hospital Museum.  At the Pry House we were also questioned by some very eager reenactors who were in town for the anniversary.  We even went on to Harpers Ferry, which played a key role in the happenings at Antietam.  For some reason it had always been a desire of mine to go to Harper's Ferry, and it was worth it.  What a pleasant little town on a hill plus I had some delicious pumpkin ice cream there.  What made this trip most memorable was the mini (and the company of the mini's owner).  Here are more pictures of the mini at Antietam!