Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center is located on what was the Best Farm during the Civil War. It was here that Confederate general Jubal Early set up his artillery in order to shell the Union troops at Monocacy Junction and on the other side of the Monocacy River.

5201 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD 21704

Telephone: (301) 662-3515

OPERATING HOURS

The Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center is typically open on Thursdays through Mondays from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a free park brochure
• Monocacy Battlefield Museum
• Outdoor exhibits
• Light-animated battle map program
• Book / souvenir store
• Restrooms

LIGHT-ANIMATED BATTLE MAP PROGRAM

Light-animated battle map at the Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center

While there is no film about the Battle of Monocacy shown at the Visitor Center, there is a light-animated battle map program with audio commentary. Located within the museum area of the Visitor Center, this is the best way to learn about the Battle of Monocacy. The program lasts seven minutes and plays on demand—just push a button.

MUSEUM

Life on the Battlefield diorama at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Visitor Center museum

The museum at the Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center covers a hodge-podge of random topics—not everything is about the Battle of Monocacy. Upon entering, a sign suggests that visitors proceed in the counterclockwise direction for the best experience. However, the exhibits appear to be placed around the museum in no particular order and often have no relationship to each other, and following the suggested route doesn’t change matters. For example, half of one exhibit defines border states (slave states that remained with the Union) and the other half discusses the importance of Monocacy Junction, a road and railroad junction with connections to both Baltimore and Washington, D. C. What in the world do these two topics have to do with each other? I often found myself reading an exhibit but feeling that it was missing information needed to fully understand the topic. And then, a little farther down is the exhibit that provides the missing information. It should have come sooner than later. The museum is poorly laid out to say the least.

Exhibit on Maryland’s view of the Civil War at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Visitor Center museum

Despite the confusing layout, I did learn a few things about the Civil War that I did not know. Though I am about to confess my ignorance, I was unaware that Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri were slave states that stayed with the Union. Furthermore, I was not aware that the January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the Confederate states but not in the border states. President Abraham Lincoln did not want to upset the border states in fear of them joining the Confederacy.

Maryland abolished slavery on its own in November 1864, as did Missouri in January 1865. However, Delaware and Kentucky refused to free its slaves until being forced to do so by the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865, many months after the Civil War ended. Delaware only symbolically voted to ratify the 13th Amendment in 1901, and Kentucky did so in 1976. Only three fourths of the states had to vote YES to ratify the amendment, which is why approval by Delaware and Kentucky was not necessary.

The large majority of the museum consists of information panels with reproductions of historical photos and artworks. Only a few actual artifacts are on display.

Uniform decorations worn by George Davis at the Battle of Monocacy on display at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Visitor Center museum

Exhibit of Civil War-era cavalry gear on display at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Visitor Center museum

The Battle of Monocacy is pretty straight forward, and yes, you can get the gist of things by reading through the information in the museum. However, as mentioned above, the light-animated battle map program is not to be missed if you want to head out onto the actual battlefield with a general understanding of what took place here on July 9, 1864.

Light-animated battle map at the Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center

The museum also covers the aftermath of the battle, which ended in defeat for the Union. Though the Confederates continued southeast towards Washington, D. C., the Union stand at Monocacy Junction did delay them a day, giving General Ulysses S. Grant time to send two divisions of soldiers to defend the city. A battle took place on the outskirts of Washington at Fort Stevens on July 12th. President Lincoln was actually at the fort and watched the battle unfold. Stopped from advancing further, by nightfall Early and his men began a retreat back to Virginia. This was the last Confederate attempt during the Civil War to invade a Union state.

OUTDOOR EXHIBITS

On the porch of the Visitor Center are placards that summarize all of the historical locations that you will visit as you tour the battlefield. The view from the porch is of the Best Farm where the Battle of Monocacy began. Confederate artillery would have been positioned here and firing at the Union soldiers at the far end of the field in front of the porch.

A view from the Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center’s porch

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

If you want to read through all of the information in the museum and watch the light-animated battle map program, plan to spend an hour at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Visitor Center. Of course, only ardent Civil War buffs want to read everything, but a typical tourist should still see the map program and at least walk through the museum to browse topics of interest. If that’s your plan, you’ll need about a half hour for your visit.

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