This past weekend, we drove up to Maryland to visit Antietam.

You are never going to guess. We visited another battlefield! This time, we headed north to Maryland to visit the scene of America's bloodiest one-day battle: Antietam.

We timed this adventure so that we scored another free National Park Weekend (we went to Yorktown during Presidents Day weekend). Lots of people also had the same idea, so we went from sight to sight and saw familiar faces. The tour even started with a talk from a Parks person, which rarely happens. Usually it's an ooooold movie. After the chat, we drove the self-guided tour in trusty Mithy (aka Mithrandir).

I'll let you enjoy the battlefield through my photos. They will give you a glimpse of the sights. After Antietam, we drove over to Harpers Ferry, mostly to check out John Brown history. If you went to KU or study Lawrence, the name will ring a bell. He's an abolitionist and has been seen at Kansas games holding his gun and a national championship trophy. Sadly, it was raining when we arrived, so we didn't explore too much.

p.s. I think I am going to do a top 10 battlefield blog. I'm sure we've been to that many by now, right?!?

A tall monument stands just outside the visitor's center. The entire battlefield has monuments that honor soldiers from both sides of the war.

Cole inspects a Civil War cannon.

This one has rifling, which improved their aim.

Yes, Red Cross Clara Barton helped on this battlefield.

The Red Cross was founded in 1881.

The poor people that lived in the area had to evacuate and pray their farm wasn't destroyed.

Along the tour road, they are working to regrow the forest where soldiers fought.

This is THE CORNFIELD where the action happened. Don't mistake it for any other Cornfield.

Thankfully, it was only cloudy while we toured the battlefield. It didn't start raining until we headed home.

I felt super bad for this guy. He lost an arm and a leg. That really complicates things.

Mithy enjoys adventures.

Cornhusker and a corn husk. Perfect.

First known as the Sunken Road, 5,500 soldiers died here on Sept. 17, 1862, giving it its current name — Bloody Lane.

The fighting occurred here in a span of three hours.

Cole reads all the informational signs, like usual.

I take pictures while he does that.

Just showing off my jumping skills during our little hike.

From the top of the observation tower, we could view most of the battlefield and see how close Sharpsburg, Maryland.

Burnside Bridge spans the Antietam Creek.

It's named after Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside because he was tasked with capturing and crossing the bridge.

This tree, the Witness Tree, saw the battle and continues to stand after 140 years.

Foxes running around in the grass :P

It only seems fitting to end out battlefield day with a cannon picture.

Or a cannon selfie. :)