Frederick Things to Do

If you take I-70, two miles south is the Monocacy National Battlefield. This was a significant battle in the summer of 1864 where Confederate General Jubal Early lead his 15,000 troops and threatened to take over Washington DC. Union General Lew Wallace (later governor of New Mexico) led the union troops. He fought a delaying action, knowing the Confederates were stretched. They had attempted to take the war into the north. Though the union lost this particular battle, they gave reinforcements valuable time to arrive with the effect that the Confederates could not possibly hold this position as they were too isolated and didn't have enough backup. This became known as the "battle that saved Washington DC"

I have to say that Frederick County did a great job with this center. Located in a remodelled warehouse, they put together several attractive mutimedia exhibits along with the standard racks of information about the County and the attractions. They had a particularly good selection of material about the Civil War and the sites and activities in the area having to do with that. I found staff to be quite friendly. Good job folks!

You recieve FREE 3 hour parking at a nearby parking garage for being an out of county visitor!!!

hours- 9 am to 530 pm, every day 361 Days a year

The American Civil War was a horribly bloody conflict and Frederick was right at the crossroads of it, near to several major Civil War battlefields. This museum traces the development of treating the war wounded- this ranged from field hospitals to surgery. An interesting museum for seeing how modern military medicine evolved.

This museum was renovated and expanded in the last few years.

Frederick still has lots of farmland around it. Some of this land was of course occupied by large estates. As you get close to the main downtown area you will find a relatively high number of stores that specialize in antiques and collectibles. Have a fun time at least browsing. The Antiques are not usually very old but you can find a pretty good deal on other things

the area around the 14 th vermont monument marks the approximate center of the union line. just to the east of this site about 350 union soldiers guarded monocacy junction. general lew wallace's line repulsed two attacks by general early's forces before a third and final confederate assaut forced them to retreat across the monocacy river. the union line is stop number two on the battlefield auto tour.

the battle of monocacy also known as the battle of monocacy junction was the northern most confederate victory in the civil war. the defeat of lew wallace's forces at monocacy allowed jubal early to proceed to march on to washington. early reached fort stevens in northern washington but did not have enough man power to attack the city. after the battle of monocacy general wallace proposed a monument to read "these men died to save the national capital, and they did save it".

gambrill mill was built in 1830 and was run by an interior undershot water wheel. the mill could produce sixty barrels of flour a day. during the battle of monocacy union troops occupied the mill and used it as a field hospital. after the confederate victory at thomas farm general wallace retreated east over the monocacy river and the mill was occupied by the confederates. gambrill mill is stop number five on the battlefield auto tour.

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caught between the two armies, the thomas house became the focal point of the battle, as confederates on worthington farm and union troops on thomas farm faced off in the most furious fighting of the battle. confederate artillery pummeled the thomas house to drive off union sharpshooters. the thomas house was captured and recaptured as the battle lines moved back and forth across the farm. a final thrust by confederate general john gordon's infantry division finally broke the union line late in the day. the thomas farm is stop number four on the battlefield auto tour.