While driving to Antietam recently I passed by Harpers Ferry and decided I really needed to visit one day. When the wife and kids wanted to go somewhere for spring break we decided West Virginia was calling and headed out to wild and wonderful West Virginia for a few days of hiking and fishing. While the fishing turned out to be a bust the rest of the trip was terrific and well worth the short drive!
Flat Kanley gets the lay of the land!
John Brown’s Fort on the left, and the monument erected in the location where the armory which would be known ever after 1859 as John Brown’s Fort originally stood.
As with most battle fields Harpers Ferry is replete with signs reflecting the battle and providing information about the troop movements, background, and individual actions.
We hiked up Maryland Heights and got a commanding view of the town. You can easily see how having enemies occupying this position would make the garrison in the town’s position untenable!
Jeffersons Rock, where Thomas Jefferson stood and admired the view in 1783. The supports were later put in by the army to prevent the rock from falling on people below.
Historic Harpers Ferry has numerous building and museums you can check out to see what the town looked like in the Civil War, and check out Storer College founded in 1867.
While it is a small town and relatively small battle you can easily make Harpers Ferry a trip worth spreading out over a few days. We had a great time and would gladly recommend a visit if you like Civil War history, hiking, or just a few days in the mountains!
I didn’t take a ton of pictures of where we ate but we did have some good meals in and around town. Bolivar Bakery is just outside of Harpers Ferry proper, and up a substantial hill, but the breads they had were well worth the walk. Back in town The Rabbit Hole had a really good fish and chips, and a great selection of local beer. Not pictured, but on about ten minutes from town is LOCO Lion, a new British based brewery in Virginia that we really enjoyed.
Have you been to Harpers Ferry? If so what was your favorite part? Do you have any restaurants you’d add to my admittedly short list?
-Wachtmeister
The Wachtmeister's Patrol 