Harpers Ferry

(June 10, 2016 – Harpers Ferry, WV)

After a late overnight arrival into Baltimore, my son, Harry and I set out for our three day adventure seeing historic sites in West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

We arrived early morning to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Harpers Ferry sits at the point where the Shenandoah River flows into the Potomac River. It is scenic and a beautiful site. Standing at the point in West Virginia, Maryland is to the north across the Potomac on your left and Virginia is south across the Shenandoah to your right.

Harpers Ferry has three important trails, the Appalachian Trail, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C & O), and the Potomac Heritage Trail. Harpers Ferry is the only town the approximately 2200-mile Appalachian Trail goes through.

Harpers Ferry is best known for Abolitionist John Brown’s raid there in 1859. Brown hoped to seize the Federal Arsenal there and arm a slave rebellion. The raid failed after several days when Federal troops led by U. S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived and put down the resurrection. Brown’s raid did raise political temperatures in both the North and the South and further elevated the Slavery question further fuelling the Secessionist movement.

Brown was arrested and turned over to Virginia authorities. Harpers Ferry was in Virginia at this time before the State of West Virginia was recognized and admitted into the Union. He was tried for murder of five people, treason against the State of Virginia, and conspiring with slaves to rebel. He was convicted and hung.

Harry and I spent about an hour at the Park Service’s John Brown Museum that included, several exhibits and AV presentations. It was informative but certainly not spectacular.

Harpers Ferry even before 1800 was recognized as a natural waterway. George Washington when as a surveyor realized its potential for economic development. Both rivers provided transportation and energy. The future first President thought so much of the economic development potential that he invested in land there. After the establishment of the National Government the decision was made to build a Federal Arsenal there for the manufacture and storage of armaments. This would be the second Arsenal, the first being in Springfield, Massachusetts. Certainly Washington was instrumental in the decision.

The arsenal was a stopping point for Meriwether Lewis to acquire firearms when he outfitted the Corps of Discovery for his expedition in 1804,

During the Civil War Harpers Ferry was alternatively held by both the Union and the Confederacy four times each. In 1861 after the outbreak of the War, the Union forces burned down and destroyed the arms manufacturing capabilities of the Armory so it would not fall into Confederate hands.