The Harpers Ferry Historic District comprises about one hundred historic structures in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The historic district includes the portions of the central town not included in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, including large numbers of early 19th-century houses built by the United States Government for the workers at the Harpers Ferry Armory. Significant buildings and sites include the site of the Armory, the U.S Armory Potomac Canal, the Harpers Ferry Train Station, and Shenandoah Street, Potomac Street, and High or Washington Street. The National Historic Park essentially comprises the lower, flood-prone areas of the town, while the Historic District comprises the upper town.
Map of Harper's Ferry in 1859, the year of John Brown's raid. "W&PRR" is the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, which ran beside the Shenandoah. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which ran and still runs along the Potomac, is shown but not labeled. The train station and hotel were at the intersection of the two lines.
In the late 19th century a number of Victorian and Federalist-style houses were built on the high ground and received guests who included Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell and Woodrow Wilson. "Stonewall" Jackson also made the town his base of command during part of the Civil War and Thomas Jefferson said of the ferry area that: "The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature."
Houses in Harpers Ferry
The historic district preserves what is essentially an intact 19th-century town that occupied a pivotal role in the American Civil War, and later as a transportation center. Thousands of tourists visit the town every year, however, parking in town is scarce. In order to better manage traffic in the small streets and enhance the feel of this historic town visitors are asked to park at the nearby Visitors Center and take the Park Service bus into the town itself. Taking the bus gives visitors a view of the traditional infrastructure that made Harpers Ferry so important prior to the 20th century.
A commuter train line stops at Harpers Ferry's historic train station and links the town with Washington, D.C., with many intermediate stops.[2]
The town was severely damaged during the Civil War, and the Armory, the only large employer, was destroyed; the only surviving building is the fire engine house, called John Brown's Fort, which is not at its original location (it traveled to Chicago and back). In addition, there was repetitive flooding in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. in the inadvertent preservation of much of the original town fabric. Two National Register properties adjoin the Harpers Ferry Historic District—the B & O Railroad Potomac River Crossing and St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.
^Harpers Ferry Planning Commission (November 1, 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Harpers Ferry Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harpers Ferry Historic District.
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. WV-224, "Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, General Views, Shenandoah Street, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, WV", with many other entries for individual buildings
May 03, 2024
harpers, ferry, historic, district, comprises, about, hundred, historic, structures, harpers, ferry, west, virginia, historic, district, includes, portions, central, town, included, harpers, ferry, national, historical, park, including, large, numbers, early, . The Harpers Ferry Historic District comprises about one hundred historic structures in Harpers Ferry West Virginia The historic district includes the portions of the central town not included in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park including large numbers of early 19th century houses built by the United States Government for the workers at the Harpers Ferry Armory Significant buildings and sites include the site of the Armory the U S Armory Potomac Canal the Harpers Ferry Train Station and Shenandoah Street Potomac Street and High or Washington Street The National Historic Park essentially comprises the lower flood prone areas of the town while the Historic District comprises the upper town Map of Harper s Ferry in 1859 the year of John Brown s raid W amp PRR is the Winchester and Potomac Railroad which ran beside the Shenandoah The Baltimore amp Ohio Railroad which ran and still runs along the Potomac is shown but not labeled The train station and hotel were at the intersection of the two lines Harpers Ferry Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtLocationHarpers Ferry West VirginiaCoordinates39 19 35 N 77 44 29 W 39 32639 N 77 74139 W 39 32639 77 74139Built1800ArchitectMultipleArchitectural styleLate VictorianNRHP reference No 79002584Added to NRHPOctober 15 1979 1 In the late 19th century a number of Victorian and Federalist style houses were built on the high ground and received guests who included Mark Twain Alexander Graham Bell and Woodrow Wilson Stonewall Jackson also made the town his base of command during part of the Civil War and Thomas Jefferson said of the ferry area that The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature Houses in Harpers Ferry The historic district preserves what is essentially an intact 19th century town that occupied a pivotal role in the American Civil War and later as a transportation center Thousands of tourists visit the town every year however parking in town is scarce In order to better manage traffic in the small streets and enhance the feel of this historic town visitors are asked to park at the nearby Visitors Center and take the Park Service bus into the town itself Taking the bus gives visitors a view of the traditional infrastructure that made Harpers Ferry so important prior to the 20th century A commuter train line stops at Harpers Ferry s historic train station and links the town with Washington D C with many intermediate stops 2 The town was severely damaged during the Civil War and the Armory the only large employer was destroyed the only surviving building is the fire engine house called John Brown s Fort which is not at its original location it traveled to Chicago and back In addition there was repetitive flooding in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the inadvertent preservation of much of the original town fabric Two National Register properties adjoin the Harpers Ferry Historic District the B amp O Railroad Potomac River Crossing and St Peter s Roman Catholic Church See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County West Virginia Harpers Ferry National Historical ParkReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 Harpers Ferry Planning Commission November 1 1978 National Register of Historic Places Nomination Harpers Ferry Historic District PDF National Park Service a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harpers Ferry Historic District Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No WV 224 Harpers Ferry National Historical Park General Views Shenandoah Street Harpers Ferry Jefferson County WV with many other entries for individual buildings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harpers Ferry Historic District amp oldid 1214053978, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
