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Antietam Battlefield Observation Tower

5.0 (1 review)

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Hell House - Fragments.

Hell House

4.2(13 reviews)
54.1 mi

This is my favorite area in Patapsco state park, I've brought many friends and family here over the…read moreyears. It's beautiful, you can find the ruins of an old mining camp and religious boarding school here. There's even a decent spot to jump off the train tracks into the water below, although take care because the water can be shallow in spots.

Probably one of the more interesting hikes that I have done in awhile. The hike will be quite…read moreshort, but you got hills and steps to get your work out on. I think the feel of the place is supposed to be spooky, unfortunately, I picked a spring break day to do it and there were enough teenagers running around here like savages (just kidding, they were all really sweet) it doesn't really have a scary feel to it at all. To explain the ruins, it was Roman Catholic school in Ilchester, Maryland. The ruins are near Ilchester and Bonnie Branch roads (so the Yelp location is pretty straight on). It was called hell house in the 70s after it was abandoned and vandalized and rumors have it a strange cult started living there. It also had an over zealous caretaker who had a gun and some dogs and would assault vandals. He was displaced after the school was set ablaze by arsonists. Hell House altar structure that most people take pictures of is at the top of a very steep hill, about a mile in. It used to have a large metal cross, and it is a very unique place for a photoshoot. For easy access, park in the lot for patapsco state park (right past the train tracks) where the trailhead is and start coming up to the left of the train tracks.

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Hell House - Grateful.

Grateful.

Hell House - Planting.

Planting.

Hell House - Shadows cast the darndest things.

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Shadows cast the darndest things.

National War Correspondents Memorial - National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

National War Correspondents Memorial

5.0(2 reviews)
6.8 mi

I'm hoping that the folks down at Yelp don't decide to merge this with the State Park. The Memorial…read moreArch is its own thing and should remain separate as you can visit the memorial and not visit the park and vice-versa. The arch is 50 feet talll and was built and dedicated in 1896 and is claimed to be the only monument in the world dedicated to journalists killed in combat. As described by the man who built it, "In appearance the monument is quite odd. It is fifty feet high and forty feet broad. Above a Moorish arch sixteen feet high built of Hummelstown purple stone are super-imposed three Roman arches. These are flanked on one side with a square crenellated tower, producing a bizarre and picturesque effect. Niches in different places shelter the carving of two horses' heads, and symbolic terra cotta statuettes of Mercury, Electricity and Poetry." Unchanged for over a century, the arch had four names added in 2003: David Bloom, Michael Kelly, Elizabeth Neuffer, and Daniel Pearl. Hopefully, you recognize the names. On the face: SPEED - HEED Sept. 14 - 62 - 96 To the Army Correspondents and Artists 1861-65 Whose toils cheered the fireside Educated provinces of rustics into a bright nation of readers and gave incentive to narrate distant wars and explore dark lands. On the north side: O wondrous youth Through this grand ruth Runs my boy's life, its thread The General's fame, the battle's name The rolls of maimed and dead I bear with my thrilled soul astir And lonely thoughts and fears And am but history's courier To bind the conquering years A battle's ray, through ages gray To light to deeds sublime And flash the lustre of my day Down all the aisles of time War Correspondent Ballad - 1865 [Round number review 15600 overall - 645 in Maryland - 1104 of 2021.]

An absolute beautiful monument that sits right on the Appalachian Trail. There is a beautiful…read morepavilion, parking, bathrooms, water, and even campsites 1/2 Mike away along the AT. Gathland State Park is accessible from RT 67 and also RT 17 ( Burkittsville), and is of great historical significance during the Civil War as it was a gap in the ride held by the Confederates to delay the Union advance prior to the battle of Antietam. Beautiful area and a definite place to check out for history buffs or just a wonderful, quiet picnic, or a day hike. It is very clean and well shaded.

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National War Correspondents Memorial - National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

National War Correspondents Memorial - National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

National War Correspondents Memorial - National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

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National War Correspondents Memorial, Jefferson MD

Antietam Battlefield Observation Tower - landmarks - Updated July 2026

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