2013 Schedule of Events
These family events relate the natural and cultural history of the area and give accounts of the men and women whose contributions made Harpers Ferry a significant place in our nation’s heritage. These events are made possible through the efforts of the park staff, NPS volunteers, living history groups, and the Harpers Ferry Historical Association. For more information call 304-535-6029 or visit the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park website.
February 3 - December 31
Forever Free: The Emancipation Proclamation: A New Birth of Freedom
Time: 8am to 5pm. Location: Second floor of John Brown Museum. Description: This year-long exhibit will highlight the refocused war effort and the Union commitment to ending slavery.
March 23, 24
“Necessity: The Mother of Invention”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Meet Harpers Ferry’s industrial workers and citizens at special exhibits featuring the technological advances in 19th century clothing innovations, health, food preservation, and arms production.
May 11
“Bateaux on the Rivers: Highways of Trade 1812”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Shenandoah River and Hamilton Street. Description: Step back to Harpers Ferry’s early settlement when John Wager & Co Boating shipped flour and produce to Georgetown, Washington, and Alexandria Virginia. Experience the Town’s early industry, trade, and transportation with the Park’s Living History Staff and Volunteers & the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society. Special exhibits and demonstrations will include a Beateauxs & Boatman’s camp at the Shenandoah River, The Guns of Harpers Ferry US Armory at the Park Green, see Basil Williamson Tavern in park’s oldest structure, the 1782 Harper House, and enjoy early republic era Musicians.
May 18
“Living Antiques! Heirloom Garden Vegetables”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town Paymaster Garden; Seed and Seedlings sales on Park Green through Association Bookshop. Description: Featuring 19th century horticulturalist expert Carol Anderson on site in the park’s Historic Paymaster Garden to coach and assist in how to organically care for heirloom plants. Through the bookshop, purchase 19th century varieties of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, cabbage seedlings, and numerous heirloom seeds for May plantings. (Tender seedling plants cannot be shipped)
May 25, 26
Defend and Protect. Arming America’s Soldiers
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Special exhibits and programs highlight the Harpers Ferry Armory, technology, invention and how these weapons were used by soldiers for national defense and exploration. See this armory town come to life as living history volunteers present the story of Harpers Ferry and the Industrial Revolution through historic weapons firing demonstration and other special activities.
June 22
The Birth of a State: 150th Anniversary of the State of West Virginia
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: This one day event will commemorate the birth of West Virginia in June of 1863. Activities will include living history, ranger conducted programs and family/youth activities.
June 23
First Alert: Harpers Ferry, the Gettysburg Campaign
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: This event will highlight Harpers Ferry’s role in the Gettysburg Campaign. Activities will include living history, ranger conducted programs, and family/youth activities.
June 29
12th Annual Don Redman Heritage Awards & Concert
Time: 6pm. Location: Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Ballroom 233 Lowe Drive, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Description: This year’s Don Redman Heritage Awards & Concert will be held in Shepherdstown. Featured guests are jazz legends Buster Cooper and Eddie Gomez, with the Howard Burns Quartet. This event is sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Historical Association and the Jefferson County NAACP in cooperation with the Don Redman Heritage Society of Piedmont, WV.
June 29, 30
Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights, 1862
Time: Demonstrations at 12pm, 1pm, & 2pm. Location: Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Description: Join the members of the park’s artillery crew as they demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery.
July 6, 7
A Fine State of Things: West Virginia Enters the Union
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Visitors are invited to step into the role of voting Virginians in 1863 to experience a vote for the new State of West Virginia born out of the Rebellion. United States Troops guard the polls; issue the oath of allegiance, while Virginia State commissions run the polls. What will they ask you? Are you prepared to answer?!
July 13, 14
Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights, 1862
Time: Demonstrations at 12pm, 1pm, & 2pm. Location: Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Description: Join the members of the park’s artillery crew as they demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery.
July 20, 21
I Will Follow Them To the Death: Sheridan’s Soldiers, 1864
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: This program presents Harpers Ferry as the staging area for Union General Philip Sheridan’s Shenandoah Campaign during the summer of 1864. Members of the reactivated living history group 13th New Jersey will demonstrate union army garrison duties such as guard mount parade, searching and arresting spies and deserters, and traitors, processing prisoners of war, searching citizens, and maintaining military security in an occupied enemy town. Costumed volunteers and staff will interpret civilian life under harsh military rule.
July 27, 28
“Medical Weekend: Giving Aid and Comfort”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Living history volunteers of the 3rd US and 142nd Pennsylvania Infantry will portray the medical and relief efforts that provided aid and comfort to the thousands of soldiers fighting during the American Civil War. The outpouring of funds and care was so vast that the relief effort was described as “an artery of the people’s love to the people’s army.” This program will offer a military diet kitchen demonstration tell the story of both the national and local, civilian and military efforts to sustain the Union Army. In the autumn of 1864, General Philip Sheridan prepared his army for the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Harpers Ferry became a launching point and depot, supplying food, equipment, ammunition and medical attention for the army in the field. Field Hospitals, a Commissary, Diet Kitchens, a Soldiers Rest, the US Quartermaster, and Sanitary Commission were included in the vast sustenance needed for that army. Visitors are welcome to join ranger guided walking tours and military drill and firing demonstrations.
August 3, 4
Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights, 1862
Time: Demonstrations at 1pm, 2pm, & 3pm. Location: Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Description: Join the members of the park’s artillery crew as they demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery.
August 17, 18
“Bringing In the Harvest”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town at Roeder’s Confectionery Kitchen. Description: Join 19th Century Historic Foodways Expert Carol Anderson for this in depth look at how summer time harvest foods were preserved for winter consumption. Demonstrations include, pickling, drying, potting, and canning.
October 12, 13
“Reacting to the Raid: The US Marines”
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Features a living history demonstration how 1859 Abolitionist Brown was captured by US troops
October 19, 20
Drink Your Apples: Roeder’s Tavern Cider Making, 1860
Time: 11am to 4pm. Location: Lower Town, Roeder’s Confectionary and Roeder’s White Hall Tavern. Description: Join living history rangers and Foodways expert Carol Anderson for Cider-making demonstrations and fall food preservation.
October 26, 27
Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights, 1862
Time: Demonstrations at 12pm, 1pm, & 2pm. Location: Bolivar Heights Battlefield. Description: Join the members of the Baltimore Light Artillery crew as they demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery.
December 7, 8
Capt. Flagg’s US Quartermaster City: Prospects of Peace Lower Town
Time: 11am to 5pm. Location: Lower Town. Description: Join over 175 living history volunteers as they help present park visitors with a unique window into the magnitude and scope of Captain Flagg’ s 1864 US Quartermaster city. Everything that General Philip Sheridan’s Army would need to fight in the Shenandoah Valley, was stored and moved out of the town’s former US Armory site. It is through this 1864 Yuletide event that the park continues to reflect on what the Civil War will determine; the Union of the States, and eventual freedom of 4 million enslaved people.
Special Events are made possible through the generous support of the Harpers Ferry Historical Association. Visit the Park Bookshop on Shenandoah Street, visit their website, or call them at 304-535-6881.
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