Gladhill Classic Car Cruise
November 7 @ 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
Please see the tour description below as proposed by Monocacy National Battlefield Park Ranger Robinson, our tour guide. We will meet at the Washington Monument park at 9am; for those coming from points east and for whom that starting time is a bit too early, you are welcome to meet us in Middletown at approximately 10am at what is listed as Stop 1 below. Please bring a picnic lunch with you, which we will eat at the Monocacy Battlefield museum. We should wrap up the battlefield tour at about 2:30pm.Owen Griesemer 240-357-5696
Monocacy National BattlefieldClassic Car Battlefield CruiseWelcome!Welcome to the Monocacy National Battlefield Classic Car Cruise!Thank you for joining us for a day of scenic driving, classic automobiles, and Civil War history as we follow the route of Lt. Gen. Jubal Early’s Confederate Army during the Maryland Campaign of 1864. We hope you enjoy this unique opportunity to experience history from behind the wheel while visiting some of Maryland’s most significant historic landscapes.Meet Your GuidesRanger Brian RobinsonYour host for today’s program, Ranger Brian Robinson serves as a Park Ranger at Monocacy National Battlefield. He is a veteran of the United States Army and holds a BA in History from the College of William and Mary, along with advanced graduate degrees in Military History, Early Colonial America, The American Revolutionary War, Civil War Studies, and World War II Studies.He is an avid Volkswagen enthusiast and mechanic. Throughout today’s cruise, he will guide you along the route of the Confederate advance into Maryland, sharing the history of the 1864 Valley Campaign and the Battle of Monocacy.Bark Ranger KaiserKaiser is Monocacy National Battlefield’s friendly Chief Bark Ranger and Ranger Brian’s service dog. He helps keep Ranger Brian safe and grounded. If you would like to say hello, please remember to ask before approaching him, as he is also a working service animal.There will be an opportunity at the end of the tour when Kaiser will have a break and be able to say hello!
Emergency & Contact InformationFor accidents or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.For vehicle breakdowns, if you become separated from the group, or if you need to leave the tour for any reason, please call or text Ranger Brian at:If You Become Separated from the GroupProceed to the next scheduled stop along the route:
- South Mountain Battlefield State Park (Washington Monument Area)
6620 Zittlestown Road, Middletown, MD 21769- Stop 1 William Moran Knife museum
4246 Old National Pike, Middletown, MD 21769- Stop 2 Hagan’s Tavern and Civil War headquarters
5018 Old National Pike, Frederick, MD 21702- Stop 3
7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, MD 21702- Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center
5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704If all else fails and you cannot catch up or are totally lost, please proceed directly to the Battlefield Visitor Center at the above address.Arriving at Monocacy National BattlefieldWhen we arrive at Monocacy National Battlefield, there will be time to use the restrooms, explore the newly renovated Visitor Center Museum, have lunch, and visit the bookstore and gift shop before continuing the program.After everyone has had an opportunity to enjoy the Visitor Center, we will begin our guided battlefield auto tour. Together, we will visit four of the battlefield’s five interpretive stops, exploring the events of July 9, 1864, and learning how the Battle of Monocacy delayed the Confederate advance on Washington, D.C.The driving portion of the tour will conclude at Stop 4. From there, we will take a short walk along the boardwalk trail to the banks of the Monocacy River, where Ranger Brian will conclude the program by reflecting on the battle’s outcome, its significance, and the enduring legacy of those who fought on this ground.Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy this memorable combination of history, beautiful scenery, and classic automobiles. Drive safely, have fun, and thank you for helping make today’s event enjoyable for everyone!