We took an hour-and-a-half drive the other day to historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Due to its strategic location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, it hosted the first ferry and then first railroad bridge across the Potomac and served as the only rail link between the Northern and Southern states during the Civil War. It was also the site of the famous raid by abolitionist John Brown on the town’s arsenal in 1859 in the hope of starting a slave revolt across the South, which was put down by then-Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee. Brown was subsequently tried and hanged for treason.

We didn’t actually see a whole lot because it took us more than an hour to figure out that we had to park far away at the national historic park headquarters and take a shuttle in to town. It was also packed with tourists and hikers on their way to the Appalachian Trail. I think it would be worth another visit but on a weekday.