Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway
Where American Began: Leadership, Conflict, Resolution and Rebuilding
| Departure: | National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Maryland |
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| Destination: | Point of Rocks and C&O Canal Historical Park and Trail, Maryland |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Following the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway through Maryland involves one full day of travel. From where the byway begins in Gettysburg, PA, follow Route 15 south into Maryland, traveling through the state to the Potomac River and into Virginia. The highlights you'll encounter on this itinerary include the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, the Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Catoctin Mountain Park (home of Camp David), the Catoctin Iron Furnace, historic downtown Frederick, including the Civil War Medical Museum, the Monocacy Battlefield, as well as Point of Rocks and the C&O Canal. The itinerary can be made during any time of the year, although the visit to Catoctin Mountain Park, Monocacy Battlefield Park and the C&O Canal can be best appreciated during clement weather.
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Start: National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Visit this impressive shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born person to be canonized as a saint, and learn how, as founder of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph’s, she was a leader in both Catholic education and the care of widowed mothers.
During your visit be sure to check out the Basilica, the visitors' center, the Stone House (1750), the White House (1810), and the Mortuary Chapel.
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Stop 1: Catoctin Mountain Orchard
Directions from previous place: Head south on Route 15, Seton Avenue, to Washington St. Turn right on US 15. Turn right on North Franklin Road to the Catoctin Orchard parking lot.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.4 miles / 8.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes After the shrine, your next stop is an orchard, one of many along Route 15 in Maryland. The Catoctin Mountain orchard is a great place to experience farming heritage and to purchase locally grown produce, jams, jellies, and pies to keep you satisfied throughout the rest of your trip.
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Stop 2: Catoctin Mountain Park
Directions from previous place: Take N. Franklin Rd back to US 15. Turn right on Rt 15 and head south toward Thurmont. Turn onto Foxville Rd/MD 77. Follow 77 into Catoctin Mountain Park and proceed to Park Central Road. Turn right and immediately right into the Visitors Center parking lot.
Distance from Previous Site: 7.4 miles / 11.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 16 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 15 minutes You'll find a plethora of outdoor adventures at Catoctin Mountain Park. Take in a wealth of scenery, wildlife, wild flowers, and historic buildings while enjoying hiking trails, scenic drives, camping, and fly fishing opportunities.
At this national park you'll also find Camp David, a Presidential retreat since the 1930s and the location of the cabin camps of the Recreation Demonstration Area established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Stop 3: Catoctin Mountain Furnace
Directions from previous place: Turn left out of the Visitors Center parking lot and immediately left on Foxville Road/MD 77. Head east toward Route 15 South. Turn toward Catoctin Furnace Road,/MD 806. Turn right on Catoctin Furnace Road/MD 806 to arrive at Catoctin Furnace.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.9 miles / 9.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 13 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes Stop off for a few minutes at the site of more than 100 years of charcoal burning to make iron, the Catoctin Furnace in Cunningham Falls State Park. The furnace operated from 1776 until 1903. It exhibits an important aspect of the early industry of the region and captures the enterprise that helped settle this part of the country.
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Stop 4: Cozy Inn
Directions from previous place: Head north on Catoctin Furnace Rd/MD 806 to US. 15 north. Take US 15 north to the Thurmont exit, MD 806. Turn right on Tippin Dr. Turn left at Frederick Rd/MD 806, and arrive at the Cozy Inn.
Distance from Previous Site: 2.9 miles / 4.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 6 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Operating since 1929, the Cozy Inn is a local landmark and a favorite eating spot. It features a wide variety of country-cooked food available from the menu or popular buffet. “The Cozy” is where the Secret Service, White House staff, and news media gather when the President is at Camp David.
While you are here, be sure to check out the inn's Camp David Museum that interprets the history and culture of Camp David.
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Stop 5: Historic Downtown Frederick
Directions from previous place: Head southwest on Frederick Rd/MD-806 to E. Moser Rd. Turn right on Tippin Dr. Turn left on US-15. Take exit to Motter Ave. Continue on N Bentz Street. Turn left at W. Church St. Arrive at the Frederick County Tourism Center at 19 E. Church St.
Distance from Previous Site: 15.6 miles / 25.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 23 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Roll on into Historic Downtown Frederick, and you'll enter a city founded in 1745. Frederick played a role in every chapter of American history and is a key location along the Historic National Road. You'll find this city has an abundance of Civil War occurrences and is prominently featured on the Maryland Civil War Trails.
The downtown area is a commercially and culturally vibrant historic district of national reputation, designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2002 as one of America’s “Dozen Distiinctive Destinations.” Stroll along part of the 50-block district filled with 18th and 19th Century architecture, historic sites, specialty shops, restaurants, and the arts.
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Stop 6: National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Directions from previous place: Starting at the Visitors Center, head east on E. Church St. Turn right on N. Carroll St/Chapel Alley. Turn right on MD-144/E Patrick St. Arrive at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine at 48 E. Patrick St.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Your next stop in Frederick, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, houses a collection of more than 1,500 original artifacts relating to medical care during the Civil War. You'll see instruments used by Union and Confederate medical staff, pharmacy bottles and containers, knapsacks and stretchers, dental tools, prosthetic devices, and uniforms. If you have a question about Civil War medicine, you're sure to find an answer at the Museum's library and research center.
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Stop 7: Monocacy National Battlefield
Directions from previous place: Starting at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, head west on MD-144/E. Patrick St to N. Market St/MD-355. Turn left on S. Court St. Continue on Ice St. Turn left on W. South St. Turn right on S. Market St/MD-355. Arrive at Monocacy National Battlefield at 4801 Urbana Pike.
Distance from Previous Site: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Arrive at the Monocacy Battlefield, the site of the last Confederate attempt to invade the North.
In the summer of 1864 Confederate General Jubal Early marched 15,000 men from the Shenandoah Valley toward Frederick, with the ultimate goal of turning south to take the Capital. Union General Lew Wallace’s forces met Early’s troops at Monocacy and held them off for a day before being forced to flee. This delayed Early’s arrival near Washington long enough so that Union troops there were able to repulse the attack. Thus, Monocacy is known as the “Battle that Saved Washington.”
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End: Point of Rocks and C&O Canal Historical Park and Trail
Directions from previous place: Starting at Moncacy National Battlefield, head northwest on MD-355/ Urbana Pike. Take I-70 West. Take exit to US-15 S/US-340 W to Leesburg/Charlestown. Follow US-15 South. Turn left on Clay St/MD-28. Arrive in downtown Point of Rocks and adjacent C&O Canal (last stop before crossing over the Potomac River into Virginia).
Distance from Previous Site: 15.7 miles / 25.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 23 minutes Your last stop on this Maryland byway itinerary is the town of Point of Rocks. This town lies at a critical transportation junction, where Route 15 meets the Potomac River, the C&O Canal, and the C&O Railroad. As such, it played a key role during the Civil War, with Union and Confederates trying to control the spot. You can see several important historic buildings in Point of Rocks, including its restored railroad station (1875) and St. Paul’s Church (1843).
If you'd like to finish off your day and experience of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground in Maryland with a hike, bike, or boating adventure, the C&O Canal National Historic Park offers you some excellent opportunities.
