An engraving shows how the Thomas Farm appeared in 1882, 18 years after the Civil War came to this landscape/NPS

In a move to help visitors better understand Civil War battle lines as they appeared in 1864, staff at Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland are removing trees to restore the historic viewsheds on the Thomas and Worthington farms.

Trees within targeted areas are being removed through December 30. The park will replant the areas where trees are removed and maintain them as open spaces. 

During the Battle of Monocacy on July 9, 1864, some of the most intense fighting occurred between the Thomas and Worthington farms. The construction of Interstate 270 in the 1950s created a barrier between the two farms, and tree growth along the road corridor and field edges has further disconnected these two significant areas of the historic battlefield.  

The restoration of these historic viewsheds is a part of a continued implementation of the Monocacy National Battlefield Public Access Plan - Environmental Assessment, which the National Park Service finalized in 2017. The plan also calls for the addition of almost eight miles of trails, the restoration of visual connections and improvements to pedestrian access. The park added new trails at Best and Worthington Farms in 2019 and completed a new accessible boardwalk at Gambrill Mill in July 2020. 

For visitor safety, the park will place temporary closures at the Thomas and Worthington farms. Information on the closures will be available on the park website, Facebook and Instagram. Visitors may also contact the park visitor center at (301) 662-3515.  

Monocacy National Battlefield was established by Congress to preserve the battlefield and commemorate the July 9, 1864 battle. The park provides opportunities for visitors to understand and appreciate the significance of the Battle of Monocacy within the full context of the Civil War and US History.