- States: MD, VA, WV
- NPCA Region: Mid-Atlantic
- Est. Date: 1944
Air & Climate Data
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Moderate Concern
Health
Moderate Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate
Significant Concern
As a vital early American town, Harpers Ferry has been the site of a number of historical events. It was a point of supply for Meriwether Lewis’s Corps of Discovery, the site of John Brown’s abolitionist raid in 1859, a key Civil War battlefield, and the meeting place for the Niagara Movement, a 1906 gathering of civil rights leaders. Its position at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers not only set the stage for such historic events but also makes the park a haven for rare native plants.
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Blog Post
9 Parks That Tell the Story of Slavery and Abolition
On June 19, the nation commemorates the end of institutional slavery in the U.S. These national parks are part of that long journey to freedom.
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Blog Post
Stuck Indoors? 10 Great Books About National Parks
These 10 nonfiction books will deepen your appreciation for pivotal events in American history and the national park sites that commemorate them.
More about Harpers Ferry
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Read more about Learning to Fly
Podcast Episode Learning to Fly Raptors such as peregrine falcons and California condors made the endangered species list decades ago, but thanks in part to monitoring and recovery programs in national parks, things have been looking up.
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Read more about West Virginia Voters Support their National Parks
Report West Virginia Voters Support their National Parks The National Parks Conservation Association commissioned polling opinion research among West Virginia Voters to gauge their attitudes about national parks and policies that could further enhance and preserve them.
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Read more about Urban Stargazing: See More of the Universe at Night
Blog Post Urban Stargazing: See More of the Universe at Night Longer nights and clearer skies during winter make it an ideal season for stargazing, and fortunately, some national parks offer dark skies near major urban areas.
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Read more about 8 Dog-Friendly National Park Sites
Blog Post 8 Dog-Friendly National Park Sites Vacation with your furry family member at one of these fun parks.
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They are wonderful places to share experiences with family near and far :) — Brynne
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Read more about No Trophy Homes in Our National Parks
Blog Post No Trophy Homes in Our National Parks Support the Fund that Improves and Protects Public Land
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Read more about John Brown’s Soul
Magazine Article John Brown’s Soul John Brown hoped to end slavery when he raided a federal armory at Harpers Ferry in 1859. His plan failed, but he still changed the course of history.
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Read more about 9 Civil War Battlefields You Helped Save
Blog Post 9 Civil War Battlefields You Helped Save 150 years ago this month, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, leading to the end of the Civil War. The conflict cost more than 600,000 American lives and nearly split our nation in two.
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Read more about The Anniversary Gift
Magazine Article The Anniversary Gift As Civil War sites continue to mark 150 years since America's most important conflict, Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and Gettysburg tell old stories in a new light.
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Read more about Center for State of the Parks: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Report Center for State of the Parks: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park In recognition of the important historical and natural resources protected within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the National Parks Conservation Association's Center for State of the Parks conducted an assessment to determine current conditions of the park's resources.
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