Frederick — Frietchie's Hidden Defiance
Uncover the truth behind Barbara Frietchie's legendary flag defiance against Stonewall Jackson's Confederates. Decipher clues across Downtown Frederick to expose the myth's hidden secrets and her true act of rebellion.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
September 1862: Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's troops march through Downtown Frederick, Maryland, during the Antietam Campaign
Frederick — Frietchie's Hidden Defiance
You are a Union intelligence operative, September 1862, embedded deep within Confederate-occupied Frederick, Maryland.
Stonewall Jackson's troops march through Downtown Frederick during the Antietam Campaign.
Barbara Frietchie: The Flag of Defiance
« « Flag of the Union, Wave on! » »— John Greenleaf Whittier, 'Barbara Frietchie', 1863
An icon of defiance during the Civil War
Born in 1766, Barbara Frietchie was a citizen of Frederick, Maryland, whose name became synonymous with unwavering loyalty to the Union during the American Civil War. In September 1862, as Confederate troops under General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson marched through Frederick en route to the Battle of Antietam, legend has it that Frietchie, then 96 years old, waved the Union flag from her window, openly defying the enemy soldiers. This act of bravery, whether entirely factual or partly idealized, quickly captured popular imagination.
Abolitionist poet John Greenleaf Whittier immortalized the event in his poem 'Barbara Frietchie,' published in 1863, transforming the old woman into a national heroine. Although doubts persist regarding the historical accuracy of every detail—some historians suggest the incident was a composite of several testimonies—Frietchie's story served as a powerful symbol for the Union, boosting morale and embodying the spirit of resistance of loyal citizens in the face of invasion. Her courage continues to be celebrated in Frederick and beyond.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Act of Defiance
Follow in Barbara Frietchie's footsteps and retrace her legendary act of defiance against the Confederate invasion.
Poetry and Reality
Untangle fact from historical truth behind John Greenleaf Whittier's famous poem.
Heart of Maryland
Explore Frederick, a border town at the heart of the American Civil War's turmoil.
Courage is a flag
Uncover the truth behind a legend that inspired a nation at war.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play la legende de frietchie? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Search for clues, unravel testimonies, and identify the facts to piece together the complete story of Barbara Frietchie and her act of defiance. Frederick awaits you to reveal its best-kept secrets.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in États-Unis
View États-Unis→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Gettysburg — Orphanage of Shadows
Three Mile Island — Uncover the Cover-Up
Dealey Plaza — Decode the November Conspiracy
Hell's Half Acre — Uncover the Haunting Curse
Explore other cities in États-Unis
Harpers Ferry
Where history and nature converge
Gettysburg
Where American history was forged in blood.
Washington DC
At the heart of American power, amidst monuments and museums
Washington
At the heart of American history, a city of secrets
Baltimore
Historic port, vibrant soul
Annapolis
Maryland's historic and nautical capital
