History Tour Day 4

Got off to an early start after staying in Frederick Md.  We headed to Harpers Ferry after a filling breakfast at the hotel. The humidity returned. With a vengeance. We arrived at Harpers Ferry by 9:30 and every minute the heat and humidity was climbing. We experienced hungry black gnats. They were swarming us the moment we left the car. Harpers Ferry is a town that has many historical stories. From the beginning when Robert Harper ran a ferry across the Potomac River,  John Brown trying to over throw the government to abolish slavery, Civil war battles. You can read more on the history at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpers_Ferry,_West_Virginia  . It is quite fascinating. Lewis and Clark purchased supplies for their adventure out west. They even had a portable boat made there. It was made of strips of metal that could be bolted together and a canvas wrapped around it for floatation. The boat was tested in the Potomac River, but failed during the journey to Oregon. It is pretty cool being able to visit their Fort in Oregon and visit where they bought supplies for that journey. John Brown was a head of his time when he tried to over take the government and try to abolish slavery. He died trying and it was not completely a failure. What he attempted (Read the wiki link above) caused many folks to learn from what he attempted. As we all know Lincoln completed what Brown set out to do. Many battles were fought over the control of Harpers Ferry during the Civil war. There was an armory and arsenal of weapons and was a key strategic site for the North and the South. I have been to this town before, but each time, I feel the history jump out at me. I close my eyes and try to imagine what people were doing during the different historical phases. We took a tour with a volunteer of the Park (Harpers Ferry is a National Park). The volunteer could have talked all day about the history of the town. He was very passionate about the history. I learned so much from him. For instance, during the attempt to over take the town, John Brown shot a freed slave by accident. This was not planned and was the beginning of several mistakes he made trying to take over the town. One stop we made while in Harpers Ferry, was to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine. Each year hundreds of hikers make the journey and hike the entire length. The Conservancy is a popular stopping point for them. I spoke with a couple hikers and looked at some of the maps and other items that represent the trail. I am not sure I would ever hike the Appalachian Trail. The humidity and gnats would get the best of me.  More info about the conservancy here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail_Conservancy  .

 

This was a significant Battle of the Civil War. Bolivar is a town just up the hill from Harpers Ferry.

Cannons restored and setup in Bolivar.

A View of the surrounding hills that troops were positioned on during battles.

This is one of the main roads through Harpers Ferry. There are museums, restaurants and gift shops on each side. Even ice cream :)

Steps that lead up to St Peters Church

This is the remains of an old church on the hillside.

This Rock, Thomas Jefferson stood on and wrote about the view. You can see the description here. http://www.nps.gov/hafe/learn/historyculture/thomas-jefferson-at-harpers-ferry.htm

The Side view of St Peters Church. Built in 1833. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Roman_Catholic_Church_(Harpers_Ferry,_West_Virginia)

 

Steps carved out of solid rock leading up to St Peters Church.

 

Where the Shenandoah River joins the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry 

The Potomac River

 

The Rock hill is Maryland Heights.

St Peters Roman Catholic Church

 

Harpers Ferry

 

Might be hard to see, but there is a replica portable boat just in front of the wall on the right.

 

This is known as the John Brown Fort.. This is the building he was captured in. Then later tried and hung in Charles Town.

A view of the Potomac River facing East.

 

 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy.