Harpers Ferry National Historical ParkDescriptionHarpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the connection of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis, John Brown, "Stonewall" Jackson, and Frederick Douglass are just a few famous persons who left their mark on this place.
When visiting the park, hike up to Jefferson Rock and enjoy the view of the place where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, or take a trip up to the Maryland Heights to get an magnificient view of Harpers Ferry. When hiking, one will probably notice that the main area of the park is forested. Actually, 70% of the land in the park is covered with eastern forest, consisting of species such as chestnut oak, tulip poplar, red maple, spicebush, and pawpaw. Also take time to observe some of the over 170 bird species and more than 30 mammal species in the park. These species include such rarities as the bald eagle, the red-tailed hawk, the white-tailed deer, and the southern flying squirrel.
Visiting the Park will give you a glaze into the town's past. For thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers, the place, now known as Harpers Ferry, had been homeland to native peoples who hunted and fished along the banks of rivers. After the Europeans arrival the town of Harpers Ferry was born. The small community was quickly transformed into an industrial town. The arrival of the Baltimore & Ohio and the Winchester and Potomac Railroads and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal helped to insure wealth for this community. The town remains, today, a reminder of these historic events.
Activities Bird Watching
Climbing
Fishing
Hiking
Interpretive Programs
Nature Walks
Whitewater Rafting
Wildlife Viewing
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