Dear Educator:

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is administered by the National Park Service. Our mission is to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources within the park. Education plays a vital role in the accomplishment of our mission.

Harpers Ferry Park is pleased to offer a variety of education programs designed to teach students of all ages about the cultural and natural resources at the Park. These programs have been developed to enhance your classroom instruction.

Visiting the Park will give you a glimpse into the town's past. For thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers, the place, now known as Harpers Ferry, had been home to native peoples who hunted and fished along the banks of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Settlement soon followed the arrival of Europeans; the town of Harpers Ferry was born. The small community was quickly transformed into a thriving industrial town. The arrival of the Baltimore & Ohio and the Winchester and Potomac Railroads and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal helped to insure economic prosperity for this community. In 1859 it survived the impact of John Brown's Raid only to be torn apart by four years of Civil War. The roots of African American experience run deep here: slavery, the struggle for freedom, education, and early civil rights are all important aspects of the history of Harpers Ferry. The town remains, today, a reminder of these historic events.

Thank you for your interest in and support of the park. The staff of Harpers Ferry hopes your visit is educational and enjoyable.

Educator's Guide

Teachers and educators planning a field trip to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park should access our Online Educator's Guide. Here you can obtain information on program guidelines, choices for ranger-guided programs, opportunities for self-guided programs, and how you can make program reservations. [View our Online Educator's Guide].

June 20-24 – Niagara: A Story of Freedom

You are invited to participate in the 2005 Teacher's Institute, "Niagara: A Story of Freedom," to be held at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Institute participants will have the opportunity to explore in depth the role that Harpers Ferry played in our Nation's struggle for freedom, equality, and opportunity. [Learn more]

Bona fide schools and educational institutions might qualify for a fee waiver under provisions in the 1965 Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. If you feel your group may qualify for a fee waiver, write to the Superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park at:

National Park Service
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Attention: Superintendent Campbell
P.O. Box 65
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

OR fax your request to (304) 535-6244 to the attention of Superintendent Campbell.

Your request must arrive at least two weeks before the scheduled trip and must include the following:

1. Date and time of visit and number of people attending
2. Official recognition as an educational or scientific institution by a Federal, State, or local government entity. Documentation of this recognition must be on institutional letterhead and must be signed by the head of the institution/department. Include documentation of official educational or scientific tax exemption as granted by the Internal Revenue Service. A statement of tax exemption is insufficient.
3. Statement of purpose. Groups are required to provide a statement of the purpose of the visit on institutional letterhead. It must be a specific statement of how the visit directly relates to one or more resources located within the park. A general statement that the visit is for “educational purposes” is insufficient.

Groups will receive written notification of approval or disapproval after all materials and documentation are reviewed in accordance with National Park Service policies. Submission of a fee waiver request does not automatically constitute a waiver of fees. Until a fee waiver has been granted, all fees apply.

Packaged Commercial Educational Tours may be subject to additional fees established by Congress. For additional information on Packaged Tours and entrance fees contact the Fee Supervisor at (304) 535-2904 or the Entrance Station at (304) 535-6299.

The John Brown Raid Videopack will enhance your park visit and help your students better understand this significant event. The videopack, which includes a handbook, video, and 32-page study guide for student-teacher application, is available from the Park Bookshop for $24.95. [Learn more about the John Brown Raid Videopack].

The Gilder Lehrman Institute provides educational programs and initiatives which are free to educators and scholars. These programs include:

• Summer Seminars and other professional development opportunities for teachers and college professors;
• History Now, a quarterly, online journal featuring articles by historians, lesson plans, and interactive features;
• Lectures, symposia, conferences and traveling exhibitions on American history;
• A number of publications, including Early American Abolitionists: A Collection of Anti-Slavery Writings 1760-1820 which is available free of charge to history teachers, professors, and institutional libraries.
• Awards including the History Teacher of Year; and
• Research fellowships for scholars and journalists to work in history archives.