Existing comment:
1795
"A place of immense strength"
George Washington chose Harpers Ferry as the site for the nation's second national armory.
1803
"Manufactured for me at this place"
Meriwether Lewis supplied his Corps of Discovery with guns and other goods produced here at the Harpers Ferry armory.
1819
"A greater degree of perfection...."
Inventor John Hall's new method of "fabricating arms exactly alike" revolutionized industry and pitted man against machine.
1836
"The Great National Project"
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad rumbled through the armory grounds, racing west against the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
1859
"Slavery is a state of war"
John Brown's attempt to end slavery by attacking the armory catapulted the nation into civil war.
1861
"Our armory is burnt"
Virginia militiamen descended on Harpers Ferry to seize arms and equipment from the federal armory. Retreating Federals set fire to the armory and arsenal. |