Information Panel: Harpers Ferry - Changes through Time

From this vantage point you can ponder the changing landscape of Harpers Ferry.

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, Harpers Ferry was named for Robert Harper, a millwright who continued a ferry operation here in 1747. The waterpower of the two rivers - harnessed for industry - generated tremendous growth in Harpers Ferry. By the mid- 19th century, the town had become an important arms-producing center and east-west transportation link. John Brown's raid and the Civil War brought Harpers Ferry to national prominence. Destruction from war and repeated flooding eventually led to the town's decline.