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Day Trip to Harpers Ferry |
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Written by Bob Tagert
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The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature…this scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic. – Thomas Jefferson, 1783.
These words of Thomas Jefferson certainly do ring true as to the beauty of the Potomac as well as the Shenandoah River as they meander through the mountains of West Virginia. Where these two rivers meet and become one is at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Nestled on a point of land separating the two rivers sits the historic town of Harpers Ferry. The town played an important part in Civil War history when abolitionist John Brown seized the armory and arsenal on October 16, 1859. The raid was to capture arms with which to equip an army and free the slaves of the Deep South. Brown’s raid was a failure, but it set the country in motion toward civil war. See Old Town Crier October 2009 for story on John Brown. The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War starts in April 2011. The Jefferson County Civil War Trails committee has designated 33 sites to be marked and interpreted with Civil War Trails signage. These sites include places designated under four themes – John Brown, Invasion, Occupation and Battles.
The name Harpers Ferry was derived from Robert Harper. Harper settled there around 1735 and in 1761 he established a ferry across the Potomac, making this community a major jumping off point for settlers seeking new lands in the Shenandoah Valley and points west. Over the next 30 years he also built a gristmill on the Shenandoah River and the huge stone house that bears his name.
At the beginning of the 20th century Harpers Ferry was a fashionable resort for holidayers who came by train from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. An elongated mass of land in the Potomac, known as Island Park, was a kind of Coney Island. Owned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on weekends and holidays as many as 28 excursion trains a day brought picnickers, bowling clubs, singing societies and honeymooners up from the city. According to Mayor Gilbert Perry, (mayor in 1957), recalling the period – “Society people came from the city for the whole summer, or for a week or two during the racing season over at Charles Town… At Hilltop House (popular hotel) guests included bank presidents, businessmen, and real high society. Woodrow Wilson stayed there…the hotel servants wore starched white jackets, and there was a croquet court, where a Gibson Girl might be seen playing against a gentleman with a wonderful moustache!”
Today, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park surrounds the town, providing visitors with tours, museums, hiking and biking trails and restored 19th century streetscapes, all within easy walking distance of the living village. Harpers Ferry attracts over 2 million visitors a year. The drive to Harpers Ferry takes you through some of Virginia and West Virginia’s most beautiful scenery. Driving on Route 9 will take you through open meadows, magnificent farms and some of Virginia’s better wineries. Once arriving at Harpers Ferry you can select one of their fine restaurants and enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner while gazing across the rivers at Maryland and Virginia.
Harpers Ferry is also a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking, and white water rafting. Later in the season, when the water is warmer, tubing on the river is popular. Evidence of the complex geology of the Shenandoah River valley is clear just above where it meets the Potomac. The “Staircase,” a popular section of the river for experienced canoeists, is formed from remnants of rock layers that at one time were flat, but now stand on end. Hard rock has resisted the erosion of the river and as a result there is a series of ledges to challenge the canoeist. Local outfitters can provide you with everything you need as well as transportation to a drop off point.
The shops and galleries in Harpers are all unique and one-of-a-kind. The Appalachian Trail passes through Harpers Ferry and here you can also find the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visitors’ Center. Everything that you will need for hiking or biking can be found at an assortment of outfitters including The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry and The Outfitters General Store & Bike Shop.
Things have changed a bit the past 50 years, but people still flock to Harpers Ferry. If you decide to stay for a couple of days, Harpers Ferry has many fine B & B’s and hotels. The people are friendly, there is always something going on and the scenery is breath taking…just like Thomas Jefferson described.
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