Newcomer House

06/21/2026

John Milleker Photography is once again at the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield today Sun 6/21 10 am to 4 pm. Come by for Civil War era photography and a free cyanotype make-and-take station. Learn more about the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area while you're here. A great Father's Day activity!

06/20/2026

This shows the magic of chemistry as a picture is revealed with tintype photography. Come by the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield tomorrow Sun 6/21 if you missed this opportunity with John Milleker Photography today. They'll be back from 10 am to 4 pm. Free cyanotype make-and-take station. (Tintype portraits require a prepaid fee to Milleker Photography.) Great family experience! Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area

06/20/2026

Tintype photography: what a great keepsake experience with fascinating chemistry in action! If you missed this today and the free make-and-take cyanotype station, come by the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield tomorrow Sunday 6/21 between 10 am and 4 pm. The tintype portrait requires a prepaid fee via John Milleker Photography but the cyanotype activity is free -- both are wonderful activities for the family and a great way to celebrate Father's Day!
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area

06/20/2026

Come by the Newcomer House today 6/20 or tomorrow 6/21 for a free make-and-take opportunity of cyanotypes with John Milleker Photography. Special opportunity for tintype is also available for a fee. Great fun on Father's Day weekend! On Antietam National Battlefield.

Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area

06/20/2026

Today (Saturday) and tomorrow at the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield! Experience John Milleker Photography!

Step back into the 19th century on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, at the historic Newcomer House for the June Porch Program. In partnership with John Milleker Photography, visitors will have the opportunity to see demonstrations on both days at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Visitors can partake in the Cyanotype “Make and Take” station to craft their own beautiful blue photographic print, using the exact chemical recipe developed in the 1840s to create a piece of history to take home. This opportunity will be available from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. This program is FREE to the public.

For a truly archival keepsake, visitors can pre-book a private sitting with John Milleker Photography for an authentic wet plate collodion tintype (a fee is required for this activity). They will sit before the camera and watch as their portrait develops using the exact historic processes practiced during the Civil War. To learn more and book a session, follow the link: https://heartofthecivilwar.org/event/19th-century-wet-plate-photography-at-historic-newcomer-house/

06/18/2026

Check out this Juneteenth event taking place in Frederick County at Monocacy National Battlefield. Many Juneteenth activities and programs are taking place in the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. We hope you stop by the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield while you are out and about.

Join a ranger walk to learn about the enslaved people who lived and worked on the six historic properties that make up Monocacy National Battlefield.

06/18/2026

Juneteenth is celebrated on Friday, June 19. Many events and programs take place around the region including a Ranger talk at 10 am at Antietam National Battlefield and an event at Tolson's Chapel and School nearby at 11 am. Stop by the Newcomer House afterwards. More Juneteenth programs take place throughout the area and through the weekend.

Friday, June 19 @ 10am
Join a park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield at 10:00 am to learn about the connection between the Battle of Antietam and emancipation. This program will last about 30 minutes and meet in the orientation room.

You are also invited to join members of the Friends of Tolson’s Chapel to learn about the origins of Juneteeth, the establishment of Tolson’s Chapel, the use of the Chapel as a Freedman’s Bureau School during Reconstruction, and the role of the Chapel among Sharpsburg’s African American community. Program is a drop-in from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and meets at Tolson’s Chapel and School, 111 High St., Sharpsburg, MD, 21782.

06/17/2026

This weekend at the Newcomer House! Great Father's Day activity for the family!

Step back into the 19th century on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, at the historic Newcomer House for the June Porch Program. In partnership with John Milleker Photography, visitors will have the opportunity to see demonstrations on both days at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Visitors can partake in the Cyanotype “Make and Take” station to craft their own beautiful blue photographic print, using the exact chemical recipe developed in the 1840s to create a piece of history to take home. This opportunity will be available from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. This program is FREE to the public.

For a truly archival keepsake, visitors can pre-book a private sitting with John Milleker Photography for an authentic wet plate collodion tintype (a fee is required for this activity). They will sit before the camera and watch as their portrait develops using the exact historic processes practiced during the Civil War. To learn more and book a session, follow the link: https://heartofthecivilwar.org/event/19th-century-wet-plate-photography-at-historic-newcomer-house/

06/17/2026

We've got an exciting season in store at the Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield. We are also the information center for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area covering Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm , June - September; and weekends in April, May, October, and November. More information at https://heartofthecivilwar.org/

06/12/2026

Friday 6/12/2026, CLOSED: the Newcomer House had to close around 2:15 pm due to a power outage. We will be open as usual tomorrow Sat 6/13 and Sun 6/14, 10 am to 4 pm (assuming we have power). We apologize for any inconvenience.