Harpers Ferry, WV

Harpers Ferry is located approximately 60 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., in the state of West Virginia. The town is one-third private and two-thirds national park. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park also extends into Maryland and Virginia. This is an easy day trip from the D.C. area, but there are also accommodations for overnight stays. Options include hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and camping.

Note that there is actually no apostrophe in the town name. It is "Harpers Ferry," not "Harper's Ferry," as you'll see on the front of the post office.

Quick Tips:

Visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to learn the long and complex story of this town. Entrance fees are only per family/vehicle or per individual when walking or cycling in.

Best Way To Get Around:

To visit the national park, follow signs to the park visitor center at Cavalier Heights. From Route 340 south, turn left at the traffic light. Turn right if traveling north. You will be greeted by park rangers and directed to a shuttle bus, which will take you to the historic town. Your shuttle-bus ride is included in the entrance fee, and the ride is much more convenient than attempting to park in the town itself. You will avoid congested streets on heavy visitation days. Parking is available in the historic town, but is limited. Entrance fees still apply for all park visitors regardless of where you park, so you might as well take advantage of the shuttle service. Once in town, you should expect to walk.

This no-frills Italian restaurant has great pizza. This is my favorite pizza as far as crust goes--salty and doughy--mmm. I highly recommend getting the Italian sausage on your pizza. They also have sub sandwiches, salads, and Italian entrees (mainly pastas). As I said, this is a no-frills sort of place. There are a couple of booth tables in the front room in front of the counter, as well as a side room with a few more tables and chairs. There isn't really a decor, per se, but that's not the point for me. I think that the pizza here is really delicious! I have also had a sandwich, which was also good, though not particularly above average. I haven't tried any of the other dishes, but friends of mine really seem to enjoy the calzones and manicotti. They also do carryout and local delivery. They do not take credit cards, as far as I know.

This small local restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Traditional breakfast selections include eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, toast, home fries, and so on. Lunch selections find soup, sandwich, and salad varieties. You can also get a real vanilla or cherry Coke. They accept cash or check only.

Personally, I really enjoy the chicken salad cold or as a melt--it seems other people must really like it too, because they're usually out unless I get there early. I'm also fond of the cheeseburger and broccoli cheese soup when they have it--the soup usually varies from day to day. The wait staff here is very nice, but you sometimes need to be patient with them when the place is busy. It's just a small restaurant and it also does takeout, so it can get hectic for whoever is behind the counter.

The decor is simple country with some arts and crafts items for sale. Locals frequent this place. Parking is a bit limited, so you will usually end up parallel-parking in front of the junior high across the street. If you park in front of the cafe, be careful when you back out!

The front of the restaurant is a pub with bar and tables. Pub fare is available at either. Soups, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and finger foods are available here. The back of the restaurant has a more traditional dining room serving a variety of entrees--steaks, seafood, pasta, etc., plus daily featured items. Days and hours of operation are seasonal; be sure to check. There's happy hour in the pub, which also has a fireplace, TV, and keno.

The Anvil has that dark, cozy atmosphere that is so nice on a winter's day. I enjoy sitting in the pub near the fireplace. There are a few locals who are regulars here for happy hour, but visitors are certainly welcome right at the bar with everybody else. There is parking on the street in front of the place, behind in a parking lot, and in a lot across the street. There is also an outdoor area that can be used for special events.

The Armory Pub has an outdoor deck and indoor dining. The menu includes sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, etc. The pub serves West Virginia microbrews as well as familiar brands. Both lunch and dinner are available. The indoor atmosphere has historical flavor. There is a house acoustic guitar you can use to add your own special ambience. :-)

Personally, I really like the chicken carbonara pizza. It''s meant for one, but I usually have to make two meals out of it! The turkey Reuben is also very good, though I usually have them hold the cranberry sauce.

I would recommend this place more for small groups of people without small children. The floor plan doesn''t really lend itself to large parties, and I think that kids would not get too much out of the atmosphere. Great for young adults, though.

This is a barbecue specialty restaurant. Dining in a modified train car is soooo much fun for kids! There''s barbecue plates and sandwiches, fries, slaw, burgers, crab-cake sandwiches, corn fritters, and more. It''s open for breakfast and lunch, though hours and days of operation can be seasonal--call. Personally, I enjoy the pork barbecue sandwich with coleslaw and a giant Coke. The bacon sandwich is also quite tasty in the morning. If you''re weird like me, you CAN get cheese on your barbecue sandwich. It will just cost you a little extra, as will lettuce and tomato on your hamburger. Be sure to order it that way, or your burger will be naked! My friends are rather fond of getting the creamed chipped beef on toast in the mornings, though I have not tried it myself. I also hear that the corn fritters are really great.

Harpers Ferry NHP covers over 2,500 acres and includes part of the historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The town is located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, and is surrounded by beautiful rugged scenery. Park museums and exhibits cover six main themes: Civil War, John Brown and His Raid, African-American History, Industry, Transportation, and Natural History. Park rangers offer programs on a variety of topics during busier months, and special events help to bring history to life. Entrance fees are $5 per vehicle/family or $3 per person if walking or cycling in (there are special fees for groups). Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, allowing you to have a full weekend of exploration without shelling out extra bucks. There is a park bookshop with, literally, thousands of titles available that will please even the most jaded of history buffs.

The park also includes miles of hiking trails suitable for all abilities. Experienced hikers can view the town from high above by taking the Maryland Heights or Loudoun Heights trails, while those looking for an easier trail may choose Virginius Island, Jefferson Rock, or Bolivar Heights. New trails have recently been completed as well.

Visitors may also enjoy strolling along the riverbank, bird watching, picnicking by the visitor center, climbing (registration required), and so forth. Just remember that, in a National Park, there are lots of "do's", but there are also some important "don'ts." Be sure to ask a park ranger for a brochure and pay close attention to park signs.

The town of Harpers Ferry and the national park offer several special events annually, sometimes in cooperation. In December, the merchants of Harpers Ferry present Old Tyme Christmas. Visitors will find groups of local carolers, musical performances, unique shopping and dining opportunities, and even a vintage Santa Claus. For one weekend in December, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offers Keeping Christmas in tandem with the merchant event. Visitors can watch demonstrations of 19th-century yuletide customs, learn how to make ornaments and candies, experience period musical performances, and get a feel for the Christmas experience as affected by the Civil War climate.

In July, the national park offers a full day of living-history demonstrations and special programs culminating in a fantastic fireworks display. This independence event is known as Freedom's Birth. Visitation is high on this day, with traffic to match. The most important thing to remember on this day is PATIENCE. NOTE: The fireworks for the Freedom's Birth event have been CANCELLED for 2003 due to severe budget constraints. Please support your National Parks.

On selected days during the summer months, the Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Veterans Association in cooperation with Harpers Ferry NHP presents Music in the Mountains. Military bands perform outdoors at the park visitor center. Concert admission is free. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic--the concerts are a whole evening of enjoyment for the entire family.

In October, the national park presents Election Day 1860. This popular event allows visitors to travel back in time to participate in the important presidential election of 1860. Rangers and volunteers in period dress bring the scene to life.

In summer and fall, the nearby Mountain Heritage Festival showcases arts and crafts from many vendors. Coupons for reduced admission are usually available online.

The best biking in the Harpers Ferry area is on the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath. The towpath stretches all the way from Cumberland, Maryland, down into Georgetown. This is a wide, sandy track that follows an easy grade. Canal-boat operators once used this path to tow their boats with a mule. The towpath is across the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry, so cyclists starting from town will need to carry their bikes across the pedestrian bridge. Visitors parking at the national park visitor center will need to ride across Route 340 to access the town and bridge. For safety reasons, bike traffic is not allowed on the same road taken by the park shuttle bus. Those riding with small children will need to take this into consideration. More convenient access points are available outside of Harpers Ferry. Try consulting the C&O Canal National Historical Park website (www.nps.gov/choh).

Harpers Ferry was recently used as one of many filming locations for the upcoming movie Gods and Generals. Directed by Ron Maxwell, this movie focuses on the generals of the Civil War and includes actors such as Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, and Stephen Lang. The town of Harpers Ferry was actually used as the set for scenes taking place in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Early crews constructed elaborate facades to simulate period buildings. Filming took place primarily in fall of 2001. You can see the movie beginning February 21, 2003. See if you can pick out the scenes filmed at Harpers Ferry.

River rafting, canoeing, and kayaking are also available in the Harpers Ferry area. There are several outfitters that provide these services, and a stop at the Tourist Information Center off of route 340 can be helpful in getting information. Some also enjoy tubing on their own floats or on rented tubes. Most outfitters also offer these. Because a large portion of Harpers Ferry is a national park, be sure to find out where you can pull in and out. There is a designated area for river users, complete with its own parking lot. Wet bodies are generally not allowed on the park shuttle bus, and the shuttle will not stop at the River Access parking lot.

There is a flea market just past the National Park entrance on US 340. You may find classic car shows there on special dates. Farther south on route 340 lies Charles Town, WV. This is where John Brown was tried and hanged, and you may wish to read some of the historical markers. Charles Town also has fast food restaurants and other chain restaurants available for those who prefer not to sample the local fare. There are additional accommodations as well as grocery stores and a super Wal-Mart. You can purchase a WV fishing license at Wal-Mart. Charles Town is also home to Charles Town Races and Gaming, a casino and horse racing track. The casino offers dining and drinks. The nearest hospital is in Ranson, WV, very close to Charles Town.

Harpers Ferry has been a railroad town for ages. The rails still run through here, and you can see several freight trains on any given day. The MARC commuter line runs Monday through Friday with two a.m. and two p.m. trains making the trip between here and Union Station in D.C. There are other stops along the way. This is a very popular station with local commuters, and parking in the train station lot is usually full or nearly full every weekday.

Amtrak''s Capitol Limited line also services this station. I can''t give you an idea of how far the train runs, but I do know that you can go to D.C., New York, and Chicago. I imagine that you can transfer to go almost anywhere.

If you are visiting D.C. and aren''t really comfortable with our local traffic (you won''t be the first one), MARC can be a good way to visit. Lots of rail buffs visit Harpers Ferry just to watch the trains. The historic train station is being restored at this time, but is still open to the public for short periods when a MARC employee is available to sell tickets. Only the main room is opened. Ownership of the train station property has recently passed to the National Park Service, as this is the site of the federal arsenal and armory. On weekends and holidays, parking in the lot is made available to park visitors. Entrance fees are the same.

MARC: 800-325-7245
Amtrak: 800-872-7245
CSX (freight): 301-834-9013

Here are some additional photos of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

The most commonly known piece of Harpers Ferry history is that it was the site of John Brown's famous raid in 1859. Planning to arm and free slaves, John Brown and his accomplices hoped to seize weapons from the U.S. Armory and Arsenal located in Harpers Ferry. The band defended themselves from inside a fire engine house that later became known as "John Brown's Fort". After having been dismantled and moved several times, the fort stands in the National Park today and is open to visitors. A white stone obelisk monument marks the original site of the engine house.

A favorite scenic view in Harpers Ferry is "The Point". The Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converge in Harpers Ferry, and the resulting water gap is lovely to view in all seasons. Visitors can stand at the confluence of the two rivers and see three states: West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. This is easily reached on foot by people of all ages and abilities, so it is a favorite family photo spot.

I'll upload some more photos shortly.