Two Rivers, Three States

30 May - 3 Jun 2026

Today we arrived in a historic and unique place - Harpers Ferry WV. Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers near the borders of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

We actually stayed at Brunswick Family Campground in Brunswick MD. It was kind of cool driving through all three states to get from the campground to Harpers Ferry.

Because of this unique location, it made Harpers Ferry a vital transportation and industrial hub in the 19th century and its position gave it strategic military value during the Civil War.

Maryland and the Potomac to your left, Virginia and Shenandoah River to your right.

You can't really see it in the picture above but on the stone face of the hill on the left is the remnants of an advertisement for talcum powder from the early 1900s.

Advertisement for Mennen's Borated Talcum Toilet Powder

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The Appalachian Trail goes through Harpers Ferry. I walked across the foot bridge (part of the AP) and saw a lot of "love locks" along the fence.

Harpers Ferry connected major railroads and canals, facilitating movement of troops and supplies. The federal armory produced weapons and ammunition, making it a target for both Union and Confederate forces, and the surrounding rivers and hills provided natural barriers, influencing military tactics.

John Brown's Fort

One of the most famous events in Harpers Ferry’s history is John Brown’s raid in 1859. Brown, an abolitionist, aimed to seize the armory and spark a slave uprising. The raid lasted only a few days, but it sent shockwaves through the nation. The fort above is where Brown and several of his followers barricaded themselves during the last days of their ill fated raid. Brown’s capture and execution intensified tensions between the North and South and is often seen as a catalyst that pushed the country closer to civil war.

Looking up Potomac Street The first building is White Hall Tavern

Located directly across from the armory, White Hall Tavern was a gathering place for white males to debate politics, discuss local events and protest armory management, wages and layoffs

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Provost Marshal's office. Every person entering the military district of Harpers Ferry was required to report to the Provost Marshal's office where they affirmed their loyalty before being issued a pass.

Philip Frankel & Co

From 1858-1860, Philip Frankel & Co. sold ready-made clothing and accessories for men and boys in this building. Prior to the advent of ready-made clothing, "respectable" men bought their clothing custom-made from a tailor. Poorer classes made their own garments or bought used clothing.

There was much more to see but my knee was not up for all the walking. You know what that means...I'll just have to come back.

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Meanwhile, back at the campground we had a visit from several deer and two families of Canadian Geese with babies.

My poor baby girl. We were at a small dog park that had a lot of agility training things in it. She was running after her ball and wasn't watching where she was going and ran into an obstacle. It took a good chunk out of her face 😢. She was ready to leave after that but is doing fine now.

The next day we visited Antietam National Battlefield

Luckily for my knee it was a drive thru tour where you can stop and learn about each stop ``

Sign at the visitor's center

Some of the cannons used in the battles

Dunker Church

Built in 1852 by local German Baptists it was named for their practice of full immersion baptism. It ws heavily damaged during the battle but survived, only to be bown downin a windstorm in 1921. It was rebuilt for the Civil War Centennial.

The Bloody Cornfield

This 24-acre site, known as the bloody cornfield ws where the most intense fighting took place. For three hours 25,000 union and confederate troops fought. By the end of the battle over 8000 lay dead.

Joseph Poffenberger's Farm

Union soldiers spent the night here before the battle.

Clara Barton, founder of what is now the Red Cross, was frustrated by reports of inadequate relief supplies at battlefields. She gathered needed items and transported them to the front. At Antietam, she followed the sound of artillery and arrived on this part of the battlefield. She delivered bandages and lanterns to field hospitals. Clara Barton and her staff of thirty men prepared gruel (meal mixed with warm water) which they carried out to feed the wounded and dying where they fell. She worked here for three days, providing whatever assistance she could. This is just one of the many battlefields on which Clara worked.

Memorial to Clara Barton

Wheat fields near the farm

Ground hog. I'm used to seeing little prairie dogs. these guys are huge!

Burnside Bridge, the iconic symbol of Antietam

Known as Rohrbach Bridge before the war, it was renamed Burnside after Union General Ambrose Burnside who captured the bridge. Built in 1836 the 12-foot wide stone bridge spans Antietam Creek and connected the towns of Sharpsburg and Rohrersville.

The Sycamore tree on the left is called the Burnside Sycamore. It witnessed the fighting and still stands over 150 years later.

Overall, September 17, 1862 was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with over 22,000 killed, wounded or missing.

Thanks for joining me for a little American history. Next time we'll be in Pennsylvania.