. . . both sides had taken substantial losses. Robert E. Lee’s 50,000 remaining troops of the Army of Northern Virginia needed to withdraw from 80,000 remaining Union troops in George Meade’s Army of the Potomac. Where did they go?
Monterey Pass was the site of a battle that would determine whether Lee would be able to retreat and fight another day. 60 miles of wagons, loaded with supplies needed to sustain Lee’s army, headed for the river crossing at Williamsport MD and escape to Virginia. 20 miles of those wagons made their way via Monterey Pass. During the night of July 4th, 5000 Union troops, including George Armstrong Custer, attacked this retreating wagon train in the middle of a raging thunderstorm.
The Monterey Pass Battlefield Park and Museum is a 125 acre natural, cultural & historical park located in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The park and museum preserves a portion of Pennsylvania’s second largest Civil War battle.
The Battle included the Toll House, site of the fiercest part of the battle where the Union broke the Confederate line. The Toll House which still stands is currently privately owned and occupied, though negotiations are underway to bring it into the Park. The Park currently includes miles of trails with magnificent views of the area, and a Boy Scout encampment area. Adjacent to the Park is Happel’s Meadow Wetlands, Monterey Park picnic area and Pavilion (which can be reserved through Washington Township) and a playground. The Museum and its immediate grounds include maps and artifacts of the battle. Parking suitable for cars and busses is located just across Charmain Road, at the starting point of the trails and within a short walk over the pedestrian bridge of the Museum.
Join us for a wonderful Civil War and nature experience. Take a look around the park with this video. See many enhancements described in the video which were completed in late 2020, and the 2021 Program here.
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For more Scheduled Activities, see our Activities Calendar at left. For current events, review the following posts from our Facebook page, or visit our Facebook page using the link at the bottom of this page.
The Friends of the Monterey Pass Battlefield, Inc., the non profit that helps manage the Monterey Pass Park and Museum, will soon be restoring an early 1800's Toll House that was at the center of the fight. We will soon post a list of common household items we will need that would have been found in the building during the battle. One of the rooms to restore will be the Toll House office.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY PICTURES OF A TYPICAL SMALL OFFICE IN A TOLL HOUSE? IF SO, PLEASE SEND TO montereypassbattlefield@gmail.com
Visiting last weekend in September. Iis there a map you could send to me so I have an idea of what I’m looking at. I will be coming in from 81 through Waynesboro and it seems like I will pass some sites before I get to museum.
Ill look and see what I have
You may want to reach out to the Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum regarding the Searights Tollhouse.
we have visited the toll house in lavale md, and one, i think, on route 40 in pa. maybe they have a pix?
Glad to hear you are starting the project. Monterey is a nice place to visit
Stephen Urash
Cool
This Saturday August 15 Monterey Pass Battlefield will have their annual Civil War Relics Day. In addition to our collection, The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg will also be bringing down items for display. Feel free to bring items from your collection to share with us, and hope to see you here!
Is there any way to send map of what action took place. I will be coming the Last Saturday in September. Thanks
This weekend at Monterey, stop by and tour an encampment of the 17th Pa. Cavalry (dismounted) on the museum grounds. This Living History group will explain what life was like for Cavalry soldiers during the Civil War, and specifically for this Unit. The Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. After touring the encampment and museum, hike the trails in the battlefield park, which include the Maria Furnace Road and the Observation Deck overlooking the "Gettysburg Gap" and the route taken by Union Cavalry to Monterey. Across the street from the museum are the John Birely Happels Wetland trails, a unique Rhododendron forest in this unique upland bog. Hope to see you there!
The rhododendrons are actually Mount Laurel, Pennsylvania State Flower.
Are they portraying the 17th? Descendant right here of someone in the 17th.
I am trying to get information on the park for Sept 26. Would arrive around 2. Will museum be open? Best part of conflict to visit?I know Toll House is private but can you take pictures? Are there earthworks to see? Called number on park page but township could not help. Tried e-mail but it couldn’t be delivered.
Living History weekend, August 1-2 starting at 10am.
Stay cool. Always enjoyed bringing the cannon there.
Skirmish will be on Saturday between 11:00 and 1:00pm on the Maria furnace road, where Billy yank trail ends at the kiosk on Maria Furnace.
So bummed we are missing this!
This July 4th and 5th, there will be an encampment by the Pa 17th Calvary re-enactors! Don't be afraid to brave the heat as the air conditioned museum will be open as well! PA Bucket List
On this Saturday May 2 and Sunday Morning May 3, members of the 16th Maine, 3rd North Carolina and 43rd Va. (dismounts) will be encamped at Monterey Battlefield. They will have a skirmish between 11:00am and 1:00pm on the Maria Furnace road, near the kiosk where Billy Yank Trail intersects Maria Furnace. We will video this action and post it for any that cannot make it. Please come by Monterey this weekend and see what camp life was like for a Civil War Soldier. Hope to see you there!
Is the skirmish on Saturday or Sunday? Thanks
Does this happen same time every year ? First weekend of May ?