Trails and History at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, visitors can explore nature and history at a variety of sites. The park has 22 miles of hiking trails. Lower Town includes John Brown’s Fort; Virginius and Halls Islands are home to the ruins of a 19th-century industrial complex. Camp Hill includes the Storer College campus. Together, the fort, industrial ruins and college campus represent different chapters in the park’s history.
The park offers year-round workshops on 19th-century crafts and skills; dates may vary. Rock climbing is also available there. To visit the museums and exhibits in Lower Town, as well as the hiking trails that start there, the main parking lot and shuttle bus are recommended. Visitors with their own watercraft can access the Shenandoah River from the River Access Parking Lot at the junction of Highway 340 and Shenandoah Street. Parking capacity at the River Access Parking Lot is limited.
Court Trials and Museum History
The courthouse sites focus on individual trials. In 1859, the Jefferson County Courthouse was the site of the treason and murder trial of John Brown. The Jefferson County Courthouse, built in 1872, was the site of William Blizzard’s treason trial in 1922.
The Jefferson County Museum preserves objects, archives and photographs documenting the county’s history. An exhibit explores John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry through artifacts, documents and photographs. The exhibit program may change. These historic trials can be paired with a museum visit, where collection items and a themed exhibit offer different ways to explore history.
Stages, Streets and Historic Homes
The Old Opera House presents six main-stage productions; schedules may change. Its building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The St. George’s Chapel Ruins are also listed. In Shepherdstown, streets pass centuries-old buildings and American Civil War landmarks. Happy Retreat in Charles Town is the home of Charles Washington, George Washington’s younger brother and the founder of Charles Town.
River Views and Other Experiences
The Rumsey Monument overlooks the Potomac River and commemorates James Rumsey’s invention of a steamboat that could move using hydraulic jet propulsion. Jefferson County also has preserved battlefields and interpretive sites about the history of the American Civil War. These landscapes and sites complement the perspectives offered by historic buildings and individual trials with traces and interpretations on the ground.
For a different kind of experience, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races offers live Thoroughbred racing; race dates may change. The county’s attractions range from hiking trails, climbing and workshops to collections and historic sites, as well as theater and horse racing. As you plan your trip, you can choose the highlights that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Shendoah Jct, Charles Town, Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, Kearneysville.
More destinations: McDowell County, Hampshire County, Logan.
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