Download free topo maps of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Use the adjoining 7.5 minute quadrangle legend to locate the West Virginia maps you need.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is a historic town situated at a point where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. Here visitors can experience what life in the 19th century felt like by taking a leisurely walk along charming streets whose appealing, picturesque buildings reflect the past. The museums and exhibits along the way will please everyone. Or take a walk to the battlefields or on one of the many trails, tour the Visitor Center for information regarding the activities, living history demonstrations and more. Join a ranger guided tour; attend demonstrations recalling early American events, or Civil War events. This remarkably preserved town reflects much of the early history from the founding fathers to the abolitionists and the beginning of the industrial revolution and the railway era. The dozen or more museums lining Shenandoah Street reveal interesting facts concerning people and events through these eras, and for the history buffs there is a library for researching. Taking a tour along cycling trails will reward the cyclist with a scenic view of the landscape. There are picnic grounds near the Visitor Center, with camping outside of the Park boundaries only. With over 4,000 acres there are over twenty miles of hiking trails, some of which cross the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The Murphy Trail will take you to the site of the Confederate Civil War attack on Harpers Ferry in 1862. This is also an important site where influential African Americans met, ultimately leading to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Bolivar Heights and Schoolhouse Ridge Trail are part of the Civil War paths. There was once was an old John Brown Fort here, which has been moved to another location. This vast park offers multiple opportunities to the visitor, from battlefields to a wonderfully preserved, beautiful heritage town. There is a shuttle system which is handicapped accessible connecting the Visitor Center to the Lower Town District.