Monocacy National Battlefield to Commemorate Maryland Emancipation Day with Events on October 31 and November 1 FREDERICK: On October 31 and November 1, Monocacy National Battlefield will hold a series of special events to commemorate the anniversary of the end of slavery in Maryland. On November 1, 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, Maryland freed all people held in bondage within its boundaries with the ratification of a new state constitution. Join Monocacy National Battlefield in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation. On November 1, programs will be held throughout the day at the park’s Visitor Center and the Thomas House Headquarters conference room. At the Visitor Center, artillery firings at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. will recall the salutes ordered by Union General Lew Wallace to announce the freeing of Maryland’s slaves. In addition, a new temporary exhibit, “Honoring Heroism,” will be unveiled. The exhibit displays a variety of artifacts related to slavery and emancipation in Maryland, including the chains struck from the last slave in Maryland by order of General Lew Wallace, on loan from Oberlin College, and documents and photographs, on loan from the African American Resources, Cultural Heritage Society (AARCH), highlighting both the struggle of slaves and the faces of freedom. At the Thomas House, two guest lectures are scheduled. At 11:30 a.m., author Gail Stephens will explore how President Lincoln, General Lew Wallace, Maryland politicians, and those most affected, Maryland slaves, all worked to achieve freedom for the enslaved. At 2:00 p.m., author Daniel Toomey will present a talk titled Forgotten Warriors, Maryland’s Black Regiments during the Civil War. Parking for the Thomas House programs is located at 4460 Baker Valley Road. Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Please call 301-662-3515 for reservations. On both October 31 and November 1, a night sky program will be held at the historic Worthington Farm. The program will start with a ranger talk on the perspectives of soldiers and slaves regarding the night sky. After the talk, the TriState Astronomers will provide individuals with a laser tour of the night sky and provide an opportunity to view celestial objects through telescopes. On October 31, a Halloween costume contest will be held prior to the program and will include a special sweet treat for all costumed guests. Parking for the program will be available at 4235 Baker Valley Road. The program will be canceled in the event of rain or overcast skies. Please call 301-662-3515 for status updates. All programs are free. A complete schedule is provided below. Friday, October 31 6:30 p.m. – Halloween costume contest 7:30 p.m. – Beneath a Blanket of Stars: Soldier and Slave Perspective on the Night Sky Saturday, November 1 10:00 a.m. – Artillery Firing Demonstration 11:30 a.m. – The Revolution is Complete, Emancipation in Maryland 1:00 p.m. – Artillery Firing Demonstration 2:00 p.m. – Forgotten Warriors, Maryland’s Black Regiments during the Civil War 3:00 p.m. – Artillery Firing Demonstration 7:30 p.m. – Beneath a Blanket of Stars: Soldier and Slave Perspectives on the Night Sky For more information or updates, please visit the park’s website at nps.gov/mono, see us on Facebook, or call the visitor center at 301-662-3515. The visitor center is located at 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704. Operating hours are daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm. nps.gov About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at nps.gov.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:33:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015