Harpers Ferry

The upper town is perched on a cliff above the Potomac River and is an Historic District; the lower town along the Shenandoah River is a National Historical Park of the same name. The real-life, 21st century town comes complete with a steep cobblestone street of quaint shops and more than 125 historic houses restored and inhabited by their owners on long narrow side streets. Always a workingman’s town, Harpers Ferry has few elegant mansions. The historic homes built in the 1830s and 40s were mostly for Federal Armory workers and were created by blasting the cliffs.

The Appalachian Trail national headquarters is in a stone cabin on a main street corner.

The town is named for Robert Harper who bought squatters rights in 1747 and first operated river ferries there. Recognizing its abundant water power, President George Washington recommended the village as location of the southern armory and arsenal. Building began in 1796 and launched Harpers Ferry on a century of industrial development ended by a series of floods, the latest in 1936. The town’s strategic location, industry and transportation assets made it a major target during the Civil War starting with John Brown’s raid in 1859.

Harpers Cemetery offers both ancient gravesites and a spectacular view of the Shenandoah River.

“Harpers Ferry is a meeting place of winds and water, rocks and ranges.”
Carl Sandburg