14. Antietam National Battlefield (Sharpsburg, Maryland)
The Antietam National Battlefield marks the site of the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, fought on September 17, 1862. This crucial Union victory gave President Lincoln the momentum to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, forever altering the nation’s course. Today, the National Park Service preserves Antietam’s rolling fields, inviting visitors to honor those who fell and to reflect on the enduring impact of freedom and sacrifice.
