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John Brown's Fort, Harpers Ferry

4.0
#4 of 10 in Historic Sites in Harpers Ferry
Historic Site · Hidden Gem · Landmark
John Brown's Fort was originally constructed in 1848 for use as a guard and fire engine house by the federal Harpers Ferry Armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (since 1863, West Virginia).

An 1848 military report described the building as "An engine and guard-house 35 1/2 x 24 feet, one story brick, covered with slate, and having copper gutters and down spouts…" The building achieved notoriety during John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. It is the only building of the Armory not destroyed during the Civil War.

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John Brown's Fort reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.0
133 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • By Ladyunsilence
    This spot shows some of the historical items of the local area and the meaning behind the items. There’s not much to this building but it’s nice to stop by  more »
  • By Jenny M
    Good place to see when in Harpers Ferry. I would recommend reading the signs and getting a history lesson.  more »
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Google
  • By Caroline Blanchard
    There was so much to see here for old town enthusiasts, Civil War buffs, and hikers. I would highly recommend planning to spend a minimum of 4 hours here. Most everything is very walkable.
  • By Danielle Hartka
    Harper's Ferry is so lovely. We like to go and hike around and get ice cream. They used to have a sit down restaurant with a good menu but it is closed and another opened in it place. I don't remember the names but now the food is more like sandwiches, burgers and bar food. Nothing special. However, we like to pack picnic lunches and eat outside overlooking the water anyways.
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