Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway - Maryland
In Maryland, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground is considered to be the “spine on the chapters of our American history.” Running through a National Heritage Area, the byway corridor showcases the memorable recreation opportunities, sights, and history that's only contained in the place “Where America Happened.” Many historic sites line the route including the National Shrine of St Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the Roger Brooke Taney House (home of the 5th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court), Rose Hill Manor (home of the 1st elected governor of Maryland), St. Paul’s Church in Point of Rocks, and the 1876 Point of Rocks Railroad Station. The byway travels through one of the most important corridors of the Civil War, providing access to Gettysburg, Virginia, and Antietam and Monocacy Battlefields in Maryland. Our nation’s Presidents have found safety and relaxation at Camp David. Journey Through Hallowed Ground serves urban populations along the eastern seaboard as a major gateway to nationally significant recreation areas, such as Catoctin Mountain Park and the C&O Canal. Three CCC-era recreational demonstration areas are open to the public and easily accessed from the route, and Big Hunting Creek is said to be the best fly-fishing stream for trout in the state.
Getting to the Byway: Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), MD Head northeast on Friendship Road. Take I-195 W. Take exit 4A to merge onto I-95 N toward I-695 W toward Towson. Take exit 16 toward Frederick. Merge onto I-70 W. Take exit 53 for US-15 S/US- 340 W toward Leesburg/Charlestown. Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), VA Follow the Dulles Access Road East/Hirst Brault Expressway East after leaving the terminal area. Take the exit for VA 267/VA 28, staying to the right and following signs for Leesburg. Continue toward VA 287 W and merge onto VA 267 W. Take exit 1A to merge onto US 15 W toward Warrenton/Leesburg. Alternatively, from the Dulles Access Road East/Hirst Brault Expressway, head north on Sully Road/VA 28 to Harry Bird Hwy\Leesburg Pike\VA-7. Head west on VA-7. VA-7 becomes E Market Street approaching Leesburg. Follow E Market St\VA-7 West into downtown Leesburg to the intersection of Market and King Streets. The byway follows King Street in Leesburg. Hagerstown, MD * Head southeast on National Pike/US-40 E/E Washington St * Follow US-40 for 23 miles then merge onto US-15/US-40 where you enter the byway in Frederick. Navigating the Byway: The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway in Maryland begins just north of Emmitsburg on US 15 at the border with Pennsylvania. * Take U.S. Highway 15/Catoctin Mountain Highway south all the way to Frederick. * Stay on U.S. Highway 15/Catoctin Mountain Highway through Frederick. * The same road will turn south. Follow it south to Point of Rocks. * Continue through Point of Rocks to the Potomac River on the border of Maryland and Virginia, where the byway ends.
