About Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park sits at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, where West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland meet, on land that was the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee peoples. The park is administered by the National Park Service and preserves a town whose dramatic setting made it a crossroads of American history.
Harpers Ferry is perhaps best known as the site of John Brown's 1859 raid against slavery, an event that helped ignite the Civil War. The park interprets that pivotal moment alongside the town's industrial heritage, its Civil War battlefields, and the broader struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights.
Things to See and Do
Spread across the historic lower town and the surrounding hills, the park offers a range of experiences, including:
- Exhibits and stories exploring John Brown's Raid and its role in the coming of the Civil War.
- Storer College, where visitors can find their connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights.
- Miles of trails in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields, plus museum exhibits and ranger programs.
- The Lockwood House and other historic structures that hold the stories making Harpers Ferry nationally significant.
Planning Your Visit
Visitors pay an entrance fee at the Visitor Center entrance booth or purchase passes online, and a park shuttle bus helps connect parking areas with the historic sites. Because conditions and services can change, it is best to check current status before arriving. The park's mailing address is PO Box 65, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, and staff can be reached at 304-535-6029. For maps, fees, hours, and current conditions, visit the official website at www.nps.gov/hafe.
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