Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was thrust into our nation's history when George Washington authorized the establishment of two national armories. One was located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the other in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, less than 100 miles west of Washington, D.C. Located where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city was already of strategic importance, but weapon's production made it more so.

Both armories produced the muskets, rifles and pistols so critical to our Army after our independence. In addition, huge stockpiles of the weapons were held at each location, making their security critical in any conflict.

That fact didn't go unnoticed by John Brown, a well-known slavery opponent. On Oct. 16, 1859, his 21-man "Army of Liberation" tried to capture the 100,000 firearms stored at Harpers Ferry, hoping he and his men could enlist enough sympathizers to fight a guerrilla war against slavery in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Even though the Civil War wouldn't ignite until nearly two years later, the shots that rang out were, according to some, the first engagement and a catalyst that did ultimately lead to that change. Brown never lived to see the results.

He and a remaining few of his men were surrounded in the Armory fire engine house, which would ultimately become known at John Brown's Fort. Locals joined the fight, bars were opened and busy between volleys. Thirty six hours later John Brown was captured. He was tried in nearby Charles Town and hanged on Dec. 2, 1859.

Brown knew he wasn't taking on a sleepy little militia when he launched the attack. Improvements in production and increases in manpower were well known for some time. In 1802, for example, only 25 men worked at the plant. By 1810 10,000 guns were being made here annually, and after sweeping changes by John H. Hall that harnessed machines in the gun production, there were 400 employees by 1859.

During the Civil War the city changed hands at least eight times, partly because of its critical railway. Much of the city was burned by both sides and when the Confederates took it back over the first time they moved all the Armory's heavy machinery south and destroyed whatever else they could-including blowing up the railway-before being forced to abandon the site.

Ironically, John Brown's Fort is said to be the only building that was not destroyed during the war. But years later it was uprooted for an exposition in Chicago. Less than a dozen people came to see it though, and ultimately it was brought back to a nearby site. It was uprooted a total of four times, until it finally came to rest on the Park, some 150 feet away from its original location. During its absence railroad tracks had occupied the vacant site, as well as most of the ruins of the original armory. Harpers Ferry is also the scene of the largest surrender of Union troops-12,500 men-during the Civil War.

To visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park take U.S. 340 southwest from Frederick, Maryland, or Route 7 from Winchester, Virginia, then north on U.S. 340. On non-rush hour times it's slightly more than an hour through Frederick if you're leaving the Washington, D.C., area.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but closed on New Years Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving. Passes are $4 per individual or $6 per vehicle. An annual pass is $25.

Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses run by the National Park Service regularly leave the visitors center and there are museums, guided tours, exhibits hiking trails and some of the greatest little shops east of the Mississippi in the lower town district-including restaurants. The Appalachian Trail even runs through Harpers Ferry.

The city gets its name from Robert Harper, who operated a ferry across the Potomac River in 1747. It continued its service until 1824, with different owners, until a bridge was finally built across the waterway. On June 28, 1944, President Roosevelt signed legislation that created Harpers Ferry National Monument.

The scenery in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, makes it worthy of a visit. Add the rich history with this wonderful park and it's one of those special spots everyone should visit at least once.