Antietam Creek was a significant landmark that served as a focal point during the Battle of Antietam.

This waterway ran through the battlefield and influenced both the tactics and movements of the Union and Confederate forces on September 17, 1862. The creek's terrain created strategic advantages and obstacles, shaping the combat's intensity and flow. Key engagements, including the fighting along the Sunken Road and the West Woods, were closely associated with the creek's geography. Its presence not only marked the battlefield but also contributed to the battle's overall significance as one of the bloodiest days in American history.