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Monday, January 16, 2012

John Brown's Fort - Harpers Ferry, WV

(the fort is the building in the background, taken from the monument where the fort originally stood)

Sunday we woke up bright and early and took a 3 hour drive up to Harpers Ferry, WV. Nick had been wanting to go there for a while and we ended up taking advantage of the FREE National Park Days weekend (there are several throughout the year). It was cold out, just in the low 30's but no wind and all sun made it bearable plus it seems like winter is the perfect time to visit as there really weren't many people around. It's a really neat little town!



NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
John Brown Fort
The structure we now call John Brown's Fort was erected in 1848 as the Armory’s fire engine and guard house. The building was described in a June 30, 1848, Armory report: "An engine and guard-house, 35½ x 24 feet, one story brick, covered with slate, and having copper gutters and down spouts, has been constructed, and is now occupied." It was in this building that John Brown and several of his followers barricaded themselves during the final hours of their ill-fated raid of October 16, 17, and 18, 1859.

To read more on John Brown and Harpers Ferry, visit Harpers Ferry NPS

9 comments:

  1. Hey Tanya I love Harpers Ferry ... I lived about half hour away in Sterling VA. I love seeing the cyclist climbing up that steep hill that goes in and out of town. Its a great place to go on a Sunday afternoon during the summer... thanks for your wonderful post =)

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  2. Excellent! West Virginia has many interesting things to see.

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  3. Tanya... good for you getting out on a winter day (and no park fee to boot!). Love that little red brick chapel behind the monument...

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  4. I've been wanting to get to Harpers Ferry for several years, but I haven't made it yet. Your picture just makes me want to go even more.

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  5. That little church at the end is cute.

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  6. that little "chapel/church in the background is actually the armory's fire engine house, which turned into john brown's fort...i should have explained a little better!

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  7. I think we have a John Brown's Cave in Nebraska. In any event, I find anything related to Civil War history so interesting! Thank you!

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  8. You do Daycations, like we do! Much fun.

    Cheers from Cottage Country!

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Hi! I'm so happy you've stopped by and always enjoy your comments :)