Harper's Ferry National Historic Park

It wasn't the first time Ty and I had visited Harper's Ferry. This time we went on a day that was too pretty to stay home, sunny and in the 70's. Consequently, the park was a bit on the crowded side. I got the last parking space in the visitor's lot. After Ty took a dump and went for a dip in the river, we walked to Lower Town Harper's Ferry. We toured the historic area and point, walked across the Appalachian Trail Bridge (and back). We "shared" a milk shake (almost $10!) on the street. On the way back to the car, we took the Virginius Island trail, walking along the railroad tracks and river (Shenandoah). There is history wherever you go in Harper's Ferry.

Established 1963  

Click for bigger map

Confluence:  bridges

Confluence: pylons

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian Trail Bridge

The Appalachian Trail

Love locks

Ashley & Jamie

Stepping stones

Lower town

St. Peter's Roman Catholic church is a historic chapel in Harper's Ferry. The church occupies a prominent site on the heights above the town. The street alongside the church is part of the Appalachian Trail. There is a short trail from the church to Jefferson Rock. I had forgotten or Ty and I would have climbed to the Rock. The original church was built in 1833. It was the only church in Harper's Ferry to escape destruction during the Civil War. Robin is a docent at the church.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, c. 1833

Entrance to the church

Ty went to church

The stone steps (c. 1810) predate the church.

View from the church

Rail bridge and St. Peter's Church

Construction of the US Armory and Arsenal at Harper's Ferry began in 1799. The only building that remains is the fire engine house (John Brown Fort). When the Civil War began the armory became an immediate target.  In 1859, abolitionist John Brown unsuccessfully tried to seize the armory. His raid helped to incite the country.

Armory grounds

Arsenal Square

Another view

John Brown Fort, c. 1848 (location since 1968)

John Brown monument (obelisk), c. 1895
Original location of John Brown Fort

Train coming through

Ty after a day of hiking

Virginius Island

Virginius Island is part of Harper's Ferry National Historical Park. It is located on the Shenandoah River and was once separated from the main part of Harper's Ferry by a river channel, then a canal. In the years before the Civil War, the island was a thriving industrial area, built on water power. At its peak in 1850, upwards of 180 people lived on the 13-acre island. There were somewhere between 20 and 28 houses on the island. They are long gone.

A once thriving island

Footbridge (Randolph Bridge) to Virginius Island

Ruins of the Shenandoah Pulp Mill

Inlet arches

More ruins

The island suffered greatly during the Civil War. Floods also proved too devastating to overcome. The last inhabitants left the island in 1936. Nature has now reclaimed the island. No structures remain, but there are plenty of ruins to explore. Not to mention a beautiful shoreline and crystal clear water.

The Shenandoah was a great source of power.

Under the arch

Ty enjoying the island

The Virginius Island trail offered some great views of the Shenandoah River, including rapids. Ty was able to get in the water at several places. I needed to make sure the water wasn't moving too fast for him. Didn't want my pup to wash away!

Rippling waters of the Shenandoah

So many scenic views of the Shenandoah

Shenandoah River Bridge

"Seashells" from the river

So many national parks

There are 63 national parks in the US. Yellowstone was the first; New River Gorge the most recent. I've been to a lot of them, but no where near all of them. There are many I still hope to visit and others that I'd like to see again. There are also national monuments, forts, battlefields, lakeshores, and preserves that are managed by the park service. Maryland doesn't have any official national parks, but it has many national park sites. 

National Parks I've been to

Acadia National Park (Maine, 2024)

Arches National Park (Utah, 2017)

Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah, 2018)

The Badlands (South Dakota, 1985)

Canyonlands National Park (Utah, 2017)

Capital Reef National Park (Utah, 2021)

The Everglades  (Florida)

Gateway Arch (Missouri, 1982)

Glacier National Park (Montana, 1997)

Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska, 2018)

Grand Canyon (Arizona, 1986)

Grant Tetons (Wyoming, 1985) 

Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)  

Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska, 2018)

Mt. Rainier National Park (Washington, 1990)

New River Gorge (West Virginia, 2025)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado, 1985, 2000) 

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota, 1997)

White Sands National Park (New Mexico, 2002)

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, 1985, 1987-88)

Zion National Park (Utah, 2018)

National Parks are established by Congress. National monuments are designated by the president using the antiquities act. A national monument can later be designated a national park. Both designations protect federal lands. Monuments can happen more quickly. The current idiot in the WH wants to reduce or eliminate some of the national monuments; no doubt for drilling or some other plunder of the land.

National monuments I've been to

Devil's Tower (Wyoming, 1985)

Grand Staircase-Escalante (Utah, 2021)

Little Bighorn Battlefield (Montana, 1985)

Mount St. Helens (Washington. 1990, 2009) 

Tonto National Monument (Arizona, 2001) 

Washington Monument (Washington DC) 

 

National memorials I've seen

Flight 93 (Pennsylvania, 2020)

Johnstown Flood (Pennsylvania)

Korean War Veterans Memorial (Washington DC)

Lincoln Memorial (Washington DC)

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota, 1985, 2011)

Thomas Jefferson Memorial (Washington DC)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington DC)

World War II Memorial (Washington DC)

National Battlefields I've been to

Antietam National Battlefield (Maryland)

Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania)

Monocacy National Battlefield (Maryland)

Some National Historic Landmarks are managed by the National Park Service. There are over 2600 National Historic Landmarks. Most are managed by the states or private organizations. I got a late start getting National Park stamps (seen above).

Other National Park sites I have visited

Adams National Historic Park (Massachusetts, 2011) 

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary (California, 1994) 

Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland, Virginia)
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Maryland) 
Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland) -- near Camp David

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal (Maryland, West Virginia)

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia)

Eisenhower National Historic Site (Pennsylvania) 

Great Falls Park (Virginia, Maryland)

Harper's Ferry National Historical Park | Virginius Island (West Virginia)  

Fort Washington National Park (Maryland, 2024)      

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan, 2025) 

Pike's Peak (Colorado) 

Bucket list 

Death Valley (California)

Dry Tortugas (Florida)

Giant Sequoias (California) 

Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) 

Redwoods (California)

Yosemite National Park (California)

Pictured Rocks

My primary destination in the UP was Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Before deciding on a fall trip, I had never heard of Pictured Rocks. I was captivated by the pictures I saw on the internet. I decided that's where Ty and I would go. Plus, there were other sites to see in the Upper Peninsula. It was getting near the end of the tourist season (in the UP) so we had to go a week earlier than I had originally planned. My boat cruise was on Saturday. The last cruises of the season were on Monday.

Pictured Rocks Cruises

Our boat

The amazing colors of Pictured Rocks

Miners' Castle from the water

Nature's Paint

Vertical striations

Lovers' Leap

Caves

Battleships

Video of boat going into hidden cove

From inside the cove

Battleship row

An arch

East Channel Lighthouse

Indian Rock

Chapel Rock

A collapse

Spray falls

Hello hiker

Poor Ty had to stay in a kennel while I enjoyed my cruise of Pictured Rocks. Fortunately, the cruise company offered free kenneling of dogs. They had large dog crates available for the dogs. About 20 of them. You had to have a lock and water dish. Ty seemed okay with the arrangement. He would get his chance to ride a boat soon enough.