Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College.
Discover miles of trail in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields.
Photo: NPS Photo/Shenandoah Sanchez
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry.
- LocationHarpers Ferry, WV
- Entrance $20 private vehicle
- HoursDaily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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Weather now89°F Sunny
- Alerts 2 active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Abolition Movement
- African American Heritage
- Animals
- Armories
- Battlefields
- Birds
- Civil Rights
- Civil War
12 more topics
- Climate Change
- Enslavement
- Fish
- Floods
- Geology
- Military
- Scenic Views
- Schools and Education
- Social Movements
- Tragic Events
- Wars and Conflicts
- Wetlands
Alerts (2)
Park ClosureBridge to Maryland Heights & C&O Canal CLOSED The Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge to the C&O Canal NHP towpath is CLOSED for repair and construction to improve the… Read more
The Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge to the C&O Canal NHP towpath is CLOSED for repair and construction to improve the stairway. A shuttle with very limited space will run between Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center and C&O Canal Lock 34. This will impact access to Maryland Heights, the Appalachian NST, and the Potomac Heritage NST. We strongly advise considering other trails when possible.
CautionOngoing work on Lower Town buildings Facilities staff are doing repair work on several buildings in Lower Town. Please follow signs for alternate entrances a… Read more
Facilities staff are doing repair work on several buildings in Lower Town. Please follow signs for alternate entrances and heed temporary closures.
Things to Do
6 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Other Visitor Services
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Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center
Facility
The Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Visitors may ask questions, pick up park maps and…
Cavalier Heights Visitor Center, Harpers Ferry, WV (304) 535-6029 Directions
Details
The Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Visitors may ask questions, pick up park maps and brochures, and more. From this location, visitors may park their vehicles and take a shuttle bus to the Lower Town district of the park. *Park passports stamps located at Bookshop in Lower Town* *Purchase park entrance passes at the entrance station, located just outside the Visitor Center parking area* -
Lower Town Information Center
Facility
The Lower Town Information Center is currently closed. Maps and information are available at the nearby "Place in Time" exhibit, a few doors down the street towards the…
Harpers Ferry, WV (304) 535-6029 Directions
Details
The Lower Town Information Center is currently closed. Maps and information are available at the nearby "Place in Time" exhibit, a few doors down the street towards the shuttle bus stop.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM · Parkwide Hours of Operation
Hours by area (2)
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Parkwide Hours of OperationDaily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Park museums/exhibits, the Visitor Center, and restroom facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park passes may be purchased at the entrance station Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to purchase a nationwide America the Beautiful pass, we encourage you to call 304-535-6299 before you come. Park shuttle bus hours are currently 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Tuesday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Wednesday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Thursday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Saturday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Sunday 9:00AM - 5:00PM -
Park Grounds and TrailsDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Monday Sunrise to Sunset Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset Thursday Sunrise to Sunset Friday Sunrise to Sunset Saturday Sunrise to Sunset Sunday Sunrise to Sunset
Entrance fees
- $20Private Vehicle
- $15Motorcycle
- $10Per Person
Fee details
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Private Vehicle$20
For a single, private vehicle. Excludes group tours and 7+ passenger vans. Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
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Motorcycle$15
Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Entrance passes are valid for 3 consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
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Per Person$10
Persons arriving on foot or on bicycle are required to pay the per-person fee. Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
Passes
- $35Annual Entrance - Park
Pass details
- Annual Entrance - Park
Valid for one year from month of purchase for Harpers Ferry NHP only. Admits pass-holder and passengers in a single, private vehicle (excluding groups) or immediate family if entering by other means. Nontransferable. Hard copies of the annual pass can be purchased at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center. The digital version of the annual pass can be purchased online at the link above.
Weather
89°F
Sunny · feels like 86°
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Today
90° 57°
Overcast9% rain -
Tomorrow
90° 63°
Overcast68% rain
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Saturday
71° 55°
Overcast57% rain
Updated 4 hr ago
What to expect by season
Harpers Ferry experiences all four seasons - the cold and snow of winter, the rain and flowers of spring, the humidity and sunshine of summer, and the chill and leaf change of fall. We will strive to keep you up-to-date as Harpers Ferry's landscape changes with the seasons. To see the current weather or the forecasted weather for Harpers Ferry, please visit the National Weather Service site and set the zip code to 25425.
Contact the park
Upcoming Events
6 coming up-
The Story Behind the Scenery
About
Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Arsenal Square.
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The Story Behind the Scenery
About
Join park staff for an overview of the landscape and history that made this place famous. Arsenal Square, near the John Brown Fort in Lower Town.
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Sacrifices & Circumstances
About
John Brown’s 1859 attack on the U.S. Armory in Harpers Ferry redirected national attention to the question of slavery in the United States. Individuals on all sides of the conflict shaped both the community and the nation through their actions. This event explores the human cost and lasting consequences of the raid, experienced differently by Americans across lines of race, status, and beliefs. This program will be presented at significant locations throughout Lower Town.
Sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
More details will be added soon!
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Proceed to the Ferry: John Brown's March Commemoration
About
“We will proceed to the Ferry.” With these words, abolitionist John Brown launched an attack on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry—an event that helped ignite the Civil War. Follow in the footsteps of Brown’s small “Provisional Army” during this solemn five-mile hike from his headquarters in Washington County, Maryland, to Harpers Ferry. This rarely offered experience invites participants to consider how acts of moral conviction have influenced the nation’s course across generations.
In addition to the processional hike led by retired park Chief Historian Dennis Frye, this event includes shuttle service to Brown’s headquarters at the Kennedy Farm, presentations, music, and an authentic period meal.
Registration is required. Cost: $200. Space is limited. This rain-or-shine event includes elevation changes and walking on road and gravel surfaces. Co-sponsored by the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, with support from the Shepherd University Civil War Center; Washington County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office; and Washington County EMS.
Show 2 more events
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At All Times Ready
About
America’s efforts to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence have often involved conflict, sacrifice, and profound consequences. Few events were as dramatic as John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry. Experience the raid through the perspectives of U.S. Marines, townspeople, formerly enslaved men and women, and John Brown himself. Join park staff and volunteers from the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company to explore how the raid unfolded and transformed Harpers Ferry into a key site in American civil rights history.
Sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Park Association and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
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Veterans Day Ceremony: Soldiers at Harpers Ferry
About
For 250 years, military service has shaped the nation’s democratic institutions and the lives of those who have defended them. This ceremony honors their service with a wreath-laying at the Storer College Veterans’ Monument, which honors Storer College students who served in the Civil War, Spanish American War, and World War I Local veterans are encouraged to attend, while volunteers will represent soldiers from past generations.
Co-sponsored by Harpers Ferry Park Association, the American Legion, and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
More details will be added soon.
Photos
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Artillery at Murphy-Chambers Farm — NPS Photo/Autumn Cook -
Getting There
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Harpers Ferry NHP's Visitor Center is located off of US Route 340 in West Virginia. The park entrance is 8 miles east of Charles Town, WV and 20 miles southwest of Frederick, MD.
Mailing address: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
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