Fox's Gap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fox's Gap |
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Fox's Gap looking northeast towards Turner's Gap
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| Elevation | 1,060 ft (323 m) |
| Location | Maryland, United States |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains South Mountain |
| Coordinates | 39°28′15″N 77°37′02″W / 39.47076°N 77.61715°W |
 Fox's Gap
Location in Maryland
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Fox's Gap, also known as Fox Gap, is a low point in the South Mountain Range. This range is part of the larger Blue Ridge Mountains. Fox's Gap is located in Frederick County and Washington County, Maryland. A road called Reno Monument Road goes through the gap. The famous Appalachian Trail also crosses this gap along the top of the mountain ridge.
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What is Fox's Gap?
Fox's Gap is a low spot in the mountains. It is about 200 feet (61 meters) lower than the mountain ridge to its north. It is also about 400 feet (122 meters) lower than the ridge to its south. However, it sits about 400 feet (122 meters) higher than the flat lands around it.
Valleys and Nearby Areas
To the east of Fox's Gap is the Middletown Valley. To the west is the Hagerstown Valley. Another mountain pass, Turner's Gap, is about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north. A place called Lambs Knoll is right to the south of Fox's Gap.
History of Fox's Gap
People started settling in the Fox's Gap area in early 1751. The first settlers were the John and Christiana Fox family and their son Frederick. They were German immigrants. Frederick bought more land nearby, which eventually reached all the way to Turner's Gap.
Early Roads and Travel
The name "Foxes Gap" was first written down in a letter on September 10, 1792. But people had been using this mountain pass for many years before it got its name. It was part of an old travel route known as The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. This road was already well-known by 1732. Even though the main wagon road later moved, the path from Middletown to Sharpsburg over Fox's Gap stayed in use. It has been a local road from the 1730s until today.
The Wise Family and the Civil War
In 1858, the Daniel Wise family bought some land in the area. They paid $46.96 for it. They cleared fields and built a log cabin, which was later taken down in 1919.
On September 14, 1862, Fox's Gap was the site of very fierce fighting. This was during the Battle of South Mountain, a major battle in the American Civil War.
Monuments and Memorials
Several monuments stand at Fox's Gap today:
- The Reno Monument was put up in 1889. Soldiers built it to remember Union General Jesse L. Reno, who died there.
- Another monument was built in the 1990s. It honors Confederate Brigadier General Samuel Garland, Jr., who also died in the battle.
- About half a mile south, a bronze sculpture on a granite stone was placed in 2005. It remembers the North Carolina troops who bravely held their ground there.
The Fox's Gap area is important for history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Turner's and Fox's Gaps Historic District.
