Leesburg (Loudoun Museum)

History: The Antietam Campaign tour starts here, where General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia rested before invading Maryland. Leesburg was strategically located on the border between the Union and the Confederacy. By war's end, the town had endured bombardment, the passage of both armies, frequent raids and multiple combats in its streets.

More to Explore: With Catoctin Mountain rising above and the Potomac River flowing nearby, this area has blossomed into exquisite "wine country" while also offering quick access to the 236-mile-long, hiker- and biker-friendly C&O Canal Scenic Byway.

Photo Credits: “Three Heroes” Courtesy of: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division; “Dog Money, 50c” Courtesy of: Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.