Bobby Bartlett
Certified 2023
As a youth growing up in Frederick, Maryland, Bobby Bartlett took several field trips to Harpers Ferry, but the hike into town would invariably leave him too tired and cranky to absorb much of the town’s fascinating history. As an adult, Bobby’s passion for Harpers Ferry stemmed from a curiosity about John Brown’s 1859 raid. The basic narrative of the raid left lingering questions to his mind and loose threads that begged to be tugged as one book (David Reynolds’ John Brown: Abolitionist) turned into a collection of over 20. With his mind blown and curiosity satisfied, the only thing left to do was to share the findings of this research with the public by joining the Harpers Ferry Certified Park Guides and showing folks around the crucible of American history.
While away from the park, Bobby teaches World History at a middle school in Maryland and is a Cub Scout den leader. His students struggle to believe that on the weekends, people pay him to talk about the history of a small town in West Virginia for over two hours straight.
Bobby graduated with a B.A. from Hood College in 2009 and an M.A.T. from UMBC in 2022.
Jim Beckman
Certified 2018 | Currently Unavailable for Tours
Jim Beckman first fell in love with Harpers Ferry over twenty-five years ago when visiting the Park as an active-duty Army officer. Even though Jim has been a university professor in Florida for the last several decades, Jim nevertheless continues to spend significant periods of time each year in Harpers Ferry and owns a former Armory worker’s home in town that was built in 1847. Jim’s background as a full-time university-level educator includes service on the Staff & Faculty of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1994-1996), as an Associate Professor at the University of Tampa (2000-2011), and most recently, as a Professor at the University of Central Florida (2011-Present). He has degrees from the University of Tampa, Ohio State University, and Georgetown University. Jim was also selected as an Artist in Residence for the Harpers Ferry National Park in 2001 and researched Storer College during his Park residency.
Jim also enjoys the inspirational Park setting to complete a variety of different research and writing projects. Jim has authored numerous articles about many aspects of Harpers Ferry’s history, including multiple publications dealing with topics such as John Brown, John Brown's Raid, John Brown's Trial, Storer College, the U.S. Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, African American history in Harpers Ferry, as well as articles on the Civil War generally. Additionally, two of Jim’s published books are about Harpers Ferry's history. One book is a pictorial history of Harpers Ferry, utilizing 195 vintage photographs and antique postcard images to portray various historical events which occurred in town (Harpers Ferry, Arcadia Publishing 2006). The second book covers the creation, evolution, and history of the National Park at Harpers Ferry, and contains 199 vintage images (Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Arcadia Publishing 2020).
Andrew Corl
Certified 2022
Andrew Corl was born and raised in Middletown, Maryland, and as a Boy Scout made many trips to Harpers Ferry hiking the mountains, biking along the C&O Canal, and canoeing the Shenandoah River. Starting in 10th grade, Andrew developed a love of history and especially the American Civil War. Andrew volunteered for several years at Catoctin Mountain Park, mostly working to maintain facilities. His love of history got very real between 2000 and 2008 when Andrew was a Civil War Reenactor and attended many living history and battle reenactments in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In recent years, Andrew got away from Civil War Reenacting but still wanted to bring history to life. It was suggested that he look into being a Harpers Ferry Guide. After attending events at Harpers Ferry, he set becoming a Certified Guide as his goal. Andrew became certified as a Guide in September 2022.
Andrew graduated from Frostburg State University in 1993 with a degree in Environmental Analysis & Planning. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology from Hood College, and is professionally licensed as a Certified Safety Professional. Currently, Andrew works as a Safety Officer for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in Frederick, Maryland.
During your tour, Andrew will establish that the events that occurred in Harpers Ferry at different points in time are interconnected one to the other, and that those events helped to change the nation into what it is today.
Andrew resides in Hagerstown, MD, with his wife, Tiffany. He has three grown sons who sometimes stop by for a visit.
Chris Craig
Certified 2017
Christopher Craig first fell in love with Harpers Ferry in 1984 while on a long-distance bicycle tour. During his 15 years in Washington, DC, he frequently visited Harpers Ferry to hike, bicycle, or absorb the town’s history.
In 2005, he made the move to full-time residency in his favorite town, and he operated a bed and breakfast in his historic home for nearly 10 years. Chris became immersed in the history of Harpers Ferry through reading, attending programs, and researching the history of his house.
Prior to his inn keeping, Chris was a high school teacher for 20 years. He has served as a volunteer editor and officer in various professional, non-profit, and community organizations, including the Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table. He continues to enjoy the outdoors in and around his home, and he has begun a series of section hikes on the Appalachian Trail, which he hopes to complete by 2026.
Jeff Evans
Certified 2017 | Unavailable
Jeff Evans has loved history and nature from early childhood, when he would climb into his grandfather’s lap to explore books about the nation’s past. By high school, the eastern Ohio native was active in several local history organizations and spent his summers uncovering the past with a local university’s archaeology department.
Jeff graduated with distinction from Bethany College in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. As a student, Jeff served as a seasonal ranger at both Fort Necessity and Petersburg National Battlefields, and also spent a semester working at Colonial Williamsburg before deciding that knee breeches were more comfortable in concept than in application. After college, Jeff spent nearly a decade as an interpretive ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, winning an Incentive Award for helping develop interpretive programming. He currently teaches Geography, Economics, and American History in Raleigh County (WV), surrounded by the wonders of the New River Gorge. He specializes in making important national stories approachable through the lens of local, relatable places and stories brought vividly to life.
A longtime senior staff writer for the Battlefield Journal and previous guest editor of the Jefferson County, Ohio Genealogical Newspaper, Jeff is a frequent contributor to several publications. He is a sought-after lecturer and has developed programs for a variety of organizations.
Jeff is married to fellow Gettysburg National Military Park Alumni, Lynn, who displays a remarkable degree of tolerance for his many eccentricities. Together they have three children who share their father’s passion for history and the outdoors—especially Harpers Ferry. His two girls can often be found biking the C&O Canal with their dad, while his elementary-age son believes Lower Town to be his own personal magic kingdom of make-believe.
Andy Jackson
Certified 2022
Andy was born and raised in and around Baltimore, Maryland, growing up within a few hours' drive of Harpers Ferry. From childhood family visits to later camping trips with friends, Harpers Ferry was a familiar and meaningful place long before Andy called the area home.
Andy moved to the Harpers Ferry area with his wife and son in 2019. Having long admired the battlefield guide programs at places like Gettysburg and Antietam, Andy always thought historical interpretation would be something to pursue in retirement. When he discovered that the Harpers Ferry Park Association offered a similar program, he jumped at the chance to get involved sooner rather than later, becoming a Certified Park Guide in October 2022.
What Andy especially enjoys about guiding at Harpers Ferry is the opportunity to share a breadth and depth of history that spans centuries—from early settlement and the Revolutionary era, through the Civil War, and into the 20th century and the modern Civil Rights Movement. Rather than focusing on a single battle or brief moment in time, Harpers Ferry allows visitors to explore how history unfolds, overlaps, and continues to shape the present.
Andy graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 1995 with a degree in Psychology. He has worked for nearly 30 years in the healthcare industry, primarily in healthcare informatics. When not giving tours of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Andy can most likely be found hiking in the Park, taking pictures in the Park, talking to random visitors in the Park, reading and writing about the history of the Park, or boring his wife and son with what he most recently saw in the Park or photographed in the Park or read about the Park. In case it isn’t obvious, he loves the Park.
Doug Perks
Certified 2013 | Available for Lower Town Tours, Groups of 1 - 6 Guests
Doug Perks is a Jefferson County native, a graduate of Charles Town High School, and received a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and a master’s degree from James Madison University.
After 30 years of service, he retired from Jefferson County Schools. He is currently the Historian of the Jefferson County Museum, a Harpers Ferry Certified Park Guide, Vice Chair of the Charles Town Historic Landmarks Commission, serves on the museum committee of the Historic Shepherdstown Commission, is a board member of the Harpers Ferry Park Association, and Historian of the Elmwood Cemetery Association, Incorporated.
Doug is a frequent lecturer on the History of Mr. Jefferson’s County, a contributing author to The Magazine of the Jefferson County Historical Society, writes the column "Mr. Jefferson's County" in the Jefferson County Historical Society newsletter The Guardian, and contributes the weekly column “This Week in History” to the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper.
Marlon Moran
Certified 2025
Marlon Moran has lived in the Harpers Ferry area since 2013. Prior to that, he lived in Frederick, MD, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Hood College. Marlon worked as a Social Studies teacher for Frederick County Public Schools from 2002-2017 and is currently a LYNX Advocate at Frederick High School. Marlon earned a master’s degree in American History from Gettysburg College and a master’s degree in Curriculum Education from Phoenix University. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of History at Frederick Community College.
Marlon is originally from Guatemala and is fluent in Spanish. He grew up in Southern California and enlisted with the United States Marines in 1995. A tour of duty with the Marines brought him to Washington, D.C., where he first learned about Harpers Ferry. Marlon was stationed at the historic 8th & I Marine Barracks in Washington DC serving as a Marine Musician with the Commandants Own, The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition to teaching history in Frederick County, he has also taught music and marching at various schools and played trumpet with many local bands.
Marlon enjoys hiking in the park with his family and dogs.
Kate Savage
Certified 2025
Kate was raised in Rockville, MD, and grew up visiting the Harpers Ferry area often. A fan of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the C&O Canal, the Appalachian Trail, and the railroads made it the ideal destination to spend a weekend. As an adult, she shares this love of the area with her many children and grandchildren. Kate moved to the area in 2001, first part-time, then full-time.
Kate has worked in education for the last 27 years and now that she has finally retired, is enjoying volunteering at the Park, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the Blue Ridge Food Pantry.
Becoming a Certified Park Guide has been a great experience, and Kate feels fortunate to be able to share her love of the area with others.
Jim Silvia
Certified 2014
Jim Silvia lives in Massachusetts and began his history resume as a member of the Cape Cod Civil War Round Table. He was a member between 1996 and 2005, and was the president for 8 of those 10 years. He was instrumental in continuing to support a high school scholarship program based on Civil War knowledge. He was also a member of the APCWS, which was a forerunner of the CWPT. As a member, he attended multiple preservation conferences.
Over the course of the years, Jim has visited many Civil War battlefields, covering most of the major sites East of the Mississippi. Most recently, he has been devoting his time to discovering the Revolutionary War historic sites in New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He and his wife started visiting Harpers Ferry in 1992. They both joined the Board of the Harpers Ferry Park Association in 1998. Jim became President of the Association in 2001 and was President for 13 years. He continues to serve on the board for Harpers Ferry Park Association.
Jim & Suzanne purchased a 1842 former armory worker’s house as a vacation home in Bolivar, and plan to retire here. Until then, they make 8 to 10 trips a year to Harpers Ferry. Jim spends most of his spare time roaming the historic areas and reading all he can about the town and local events.
Rick Snowden
Certified 2021 | Currently Unavailable for Tours
Rick’s a child of the Potomac Valley. His earliest memories are of Harpers Ferry.
His love of local history began at his Aunt Naomi’s table, listening to stories like the one where Uncle John was recruited into the army at Harpers Ferry and how he was shot in the tin cup at the battle of first Manassass. When Rick read what his aunt had told him in Dennis Frye’s 2nd Virginia Infantry, he was hooked.
Rick spent 17 years as an educational course leader for World Strides, leading tours of Washington DC with eighth-grade students and their teachers. He retired in June 2019. To keep the passion for local history going, he became a Harpers Ferry Park Guide. To continue the learning experience, he belongs to the Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table, contributes to the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society, has served on the Board of Directors of The Friends of Charles Washington’s Happy Retreat, is a member of the Adam Stephens Camp, Sons of the American Revolution, and volunteers regularly at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. He and Athena, his wife of 48 years, live to garden on a plot of land in Hedgesville, WV.
Mike Vidmar
Certified 2019
Mike graduated from Bowling Green State University and earned a master’s degree in School Library Media from McDaniel College. Recently retired, he taught elementary school for 38 years in Ohio and Maryland.
He moved to Harpers Ferry in 1987 and immediately began to take advantage of the outdoor and historic opportunities the area offered. He was a member of the Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table and volunteered at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park. After retiring from teaching, he began volunteering at Harpers Ferry National Park, assisting visitors and presenting a Tour of the Day.
Mike enjoys the outdoors and has biked the entire C & O Canal Towpath, along with hiking various parts of the Appalachian Trail. He can also be seen exploring the nearby Antietam and Gettysburg Battlefields, and through his genealogical research discovered his 2nd great uncle was a Civil War soldier in the 74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment.
