Jefferson County

Charles Town African American History Tour
The Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society has prepared a self-guided tour of significant sites in Charles Town and vicinity. A tour map is available at the Jefferson County Museum. Tel: (304) 725-8628
For information:  https://jeffcomuseumwv.org/
For more information, contact the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society: https://jcblackhistory.org/

Halltown Memorial Chapel
A late-Gothic revival limestone structure built entirely by volunteers in 1901 for the African American community, this one of the many buildings along the Trail that present and interpret the area’s rich African American heritage. Off Rt. 340 on Rt. 340/12 near Halltown.
Tel: (304) 725-8628. For information: https://jeffcomuseumwv.org/

Harpers Ferry African-American History Tour
During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry became one of many Union garrison towns where runaway slaves sought refuge. Within the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park there are several museums highlighting the area’s struggle for black freedom, including the John Brown Museum and Fort, The Storer College Museum, and the Black Voices Museum. The former Storer College, which hosted the 1906 conference of the Niagara Movement (precursor of the NAACP), illustrates the education of African Americans from 1867 to 1954. The park is located off U.S. Route 340. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10 to $20. Tel: (304) 535-6029
For information about Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm
See also – West Virginia Department of Tourism: https://wvtourism.com/harpers-ferry/

Harpers Ferry Virginius Island Tour
Explore the ruins of a once thriving 19th century industrial town along the Shenandoah River. Allow about 1 to 2 hours for a complete walking tour of Virginius Island. The Park is located off U.S. 340. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10 to $20. Tel: (304) 535-6029
For a description of this walking tour, visit: https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/virginius-island-trail.htm

Historic Charles Town Walking Tour
Working as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax, largest landowner in Virginia, George Washington spent much of his young life in the Eastern Panhandle. The fond affection that Washington developed for the beautiful landscape and its bounty grew to the point where many members of his family settled and built homes. One of the most historic county seats in America, Charles Town was laid out in 1787 by Charles Washington, a brother of the first president. Many of the town’s original structures remain, from its imposing residences to Courthouse Square, offering visitors perfect examples of early American architecture. A self-guided walking tour of Historic Charles Town is available at the Jefferson County Museum, located at 200 East Washington Street. Tel: (304)725-5628

Historic Shepherdstown Walking Tour
Come walk the charming streets of the oldest town in West Virginia. Because of its historical and architectural significance, most of the town has been designated a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The rows of old houses are mostly intact, and the many fine homes and other buildings attest to the town’s long history. For more information, call the Historic Shepherdstown Museum at (304) 876-0910
For a description of this tour, visit: historicshepherdstown.com/walking-tour/

Berkeley County Historic Districts Tours
The Berkeley County Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of history in the county, offer self-guided walking and driving tours of Martinsburg and Berkeley County as well as guided trolley tours.
For detailed descriptions of the self-guided tours, visit: historicberkeley.org,
Walking self-guided tour and Driving self-guided tour
For more information, see: Historic places in Berkeley County

Sumner-Ramer Memorial School
Under the leadership of its principal, Fred R. Ramer, the school was completed in 1917. Closed as a secondary school in 1964, it has a room devoted to Black History and is now used for adult and community education programs. 515 West Martin Street, Martinsburg.
Tour by Reservation: (304) 261-0197 For information:  on Facebook

Berkeley Springs Downtown Walking Tour
For more than two centuries, Berkeley Springs has thrived as a health spa and vacation resort. It was established as the town of Bath by the Virginia Legislature in 1776 and laid out by George Washington’s family. Plaques noting the buyers of the first 50 lots for sale are scattered throughout the town. A self-guided tour of the contemporary buildings, their history and architectural details is available. For information and a walking tour brochure call (800)-447-8797
For more information visit: berkeleysprings.com/tour

Morgan County Driving Tour of Washington Heritage Trail
The 80-mile segment of the Trail in Morgan County is centered around Berkeley Springs and continues to its westernmost terminus in Paw Paw with 15 great stops including “ye fam’d warm springs.” For a detailed description of this tour, visit: berkeleysprings.com

Eastern West Virginia

Civil War Heritage Tour
Eastern West Virginia is rich in Civil War history, from Confederate spy Belle Boyd to John Brown to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and beyond. For information, call (800) CALL WVA for a tour brochure of Civil War Sites in the area or visit the following websites.