The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park In Images Of America

I visited Harpers Ferry many times with family and friends after moving to Washington, D.C. in 1974. I fell in love with the little town, with the rivers and mountains and trains and history. Unfortunately, it has been several years since I have been able to visit. Thus, I was glad to find this new photographic history "Harpers Ferry National Historical Park" (2020) which brought back memories and taught me about the Park. The author, James Beckman, lives near the Park and has written and lectured extensively on its history. The book is part of the Images of America Series of Arcadia Publishing. I have found this series invaluable in giving an understanding of American history and American places.

Harpers Ferry is at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and the National Park straddles the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Beckman's book offers an overview of the early history of the area, including Thomas Jefferson's visit to what has become known as "Jefferson's Rock", the use of the area for a large armory, John Brown's 1859 raid, and the changing fortunes of Harpers Ferry in the Civil War. In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed legislation making Harpers Ferry a National Monument and in 1963 President Kennedy signed a bill making Harpers Ferry a National Historical Park.

The book includes many beautiful images of the scenery and history of the area interwoven with the story of the development of the Park. I enjoyed seeing the photos of the old town that is no more. After the Civil War, Harpers Ferry was gradually rebuilt to include many Victorian residences and stores. Most of these and other buildings had fallen into disrepair. The Park Service had to make a decision on which buildings to restore and which to destroy. It opted to present Harpers Ferry as it was through John Brown's Raid and through the end of the Civil War. (This decision could have been stated more clearly earlier in the book.) As a result, much of the Victorian character of the town following the Civil War had to go.

Beckman offers many photos of the Low Town of the Stone Steps to Jefferson's Rock and to the Lockwood House, which I climbed many years ago, of the heights, and of the rivers, bridges, and trains. The images are well chosen and beautifully reproduced together with Beckman's insightful commentary. I enjoyed the many photographs of Storer College, an African American College that operated in the Harpers Ferry heights from 1867 -- 1955. Beckman also emphasizes sites in Harpers Ferry associated with the Niagara Movements and other important events in the area of Civil Rights. In addition to the importance of the rivers for scenery, transportation and energy, Beckman also covers the frequent flooding at Harpers Ferry which took away with one hand what the rivers had given with the other hand and ultimately led to the use of the area for a National Park.

Near the end of the book, Beckman offers reflections on why people visit Harpers Ferry. Some come , for example, "to be inspired by gifted individuals", "to learn about the shared history of all Americans" "to paint, write poetry, or otherwise express their artistic talents", or "to just walk quaint streets of a historic village and marvel at unique architecture and history." Beckman concludes that the study of history, "should inform us all on how to navigate life, hopefully making the country and the world a better place in the process."

I enjoyed visiting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park with Beckman's book as a guide. The book brought back memories of happy times. I would love to have the opportunity to see Harpers Ferry again for myself.