I have visited Harpers Ferry in West Virginia in the summer a couple of times, once with parents and then later with one of my brothers. 

This is an original oil painting by Ruth Housley. 

I enjoyed walking around the old town and seeing the John Brown Fort which is still standing in Harpers Ferry. It is 247 feet above sea level at Potomoc River level and 484 feet above sea level. It is the lowest point in the state of West Virginia. It is an 18th century town and John Brown's raid was in 1859.

Harper's Ferry was founded by Robert Harper in 1734.  He built a cabin, planted a garden and established a ferry concession across the Potomac River.  In 1796 Congress ordered an arsenal established at Harpers Ferry and the sleepy village became a busy community of 3,000 people.

John Brown arrived on the scene during the summer of 1859.  He established a headquarters for himself and his men at the Kenney farm on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.  He marched into Harpers Ferry while the town slept, captured and imprisoned two watchmen, and took possession of the government arsenal companies of militia from Charles Town, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, and Winchester and other communities converged upon the town and surrounded the arsenal.

Colonel Robert E. Lee and Lieutenant, J.E.B. Stuart arrived from Washington with 90 marines.  At daybreak, Brown refused to surrender, the marines stormed the arsenal.  During the raid 10 of Brown's command were killed, 4 townsmen and 1 marine.

John Brown was indicted for murder, treason against Virginia and was tried and hanged at Charles Town, West Virginia. 

Many severe battles raged at Harpers Ferry throughtout the war and the railroad bridge was destroyed and rebuilt many times and by the end of the war the town was in ruins.  The town has since developed as a fashionable gathering place for those attracted by the natural beauty of the setting and for the curious who wish to see the scene of John Brown's raid.