West Virginia Harpers Ferry
By Terri Marshall
Located where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Harpers Ferry beckons to nature lovers. Beyond its beauty, this small town’s cobblestone street, lined with 19th-century buildings housing boutique shops, museums and restaurants, has served as an integral part of America’s story.
Steeped in multiple layers of history, Harpers Ferry witnessed the arrival of the first successful American railroad. In 1859, renowned abolitionist John Brown planned and executed a raid on the National Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry.
deep roots here with the first free Black family settling in the area in Colonial times. Harpers Ferry served as an Underground Railroad location for freedom seekers. The town is also home to Storer College, which was one of the first colleges in the country open to people of all genders and races.
Today, a section of this picturesque community has been designated the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Visitors can join a ranger for a more in-depth exploration of the abundant cultural stories or explore the local museums, including the Harpers Ferry Historical Museum, the John Brown Museum and the Black Voices Museum. For a unique twist on a traditional history tour, consider booking America’s Oldest Ghost Tour, conducted by “O’ Be JoyFull” Historical Tours. This two-hour walking tour through the Lower Town section of Harpers Ferry highlights a mix of historical events, legends, unexplained phenomena and ghostly happenings.
With the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers surrounding Harpers Ferry, options for water entertainment are also plentiful. Local outfitters offer river tubing trips on the two rivers ranging from mellow float trips to whitewater rafting. Canoe and kayak rentals are also available for exploring the rivers.
Lace Up Your Hiking Boots
For outdoor enthusiasts, Harpers Ferry NHP boasts 22 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous in varying lengths – including a section of the famous Appalachian Trail (AT).
hikers making their way from Georgia to Maine. The Harpers Ferry Visitor Center serves as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) headquarters. A fun stop and an excellent resource, the center provides information for exploring historic sites or choosing a nearby day hike. It’s also the place to learn more about the world-famous footpath.
A lounge provides AT hikers with a place to rest before heading back to the trail. The hiker lounge also holds hiker photo albums dating back to 1979. Exhibits in the center include a 10-foot 3-D map of the route. You’ll also find the famous sign from atop the mile-high Katahdin Mountain at the northern terminus in Maine. A story wall shares the stories of some of the most notable hikers, including “2Mile Marcy,” the first African American woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in sections.
While you’re in Harpers Ferry, start your own journey on the AT by hiking a portion of the trail that runs through town. Beginning in Lower Town at the information center on Shenandoah Street you’ll turn left onto High Street, then turn left up 62 historic stone steps towards Jefferson Rock.
Along the way, you’ll pass St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. Built in 1833, this Victorian Gothic church features stained-glass windows, a dramatic spire and a stone façade. It was the only church in Harpers Ferry to escape destruction in the Civil War. Your climb up to the church will be rewarded by the commanding views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers below. The spectacular landscape views continue as you follow the footpath up to Jefferson’s Rock where Thomas Jefferson declared this location to be “worth a voyage across the Atlantic.”
