Existing comment:
Natural Heritage:
The landscape shaped the history of Harpers Ferry. The people that came here found a valley rich in natural resources. Generous deposits of iron ore and limestone, vast hardwood forests, and abundant water power attracted numerous industries. The water gap through the mountains provided an avenue for travel from east to west. Located within the gap, Harpers Ferry became the center of a busy transportation corridor. The town grew steadily until 1861, when the mountainous terrain provided a stage for civil war. Numerous floods prolonged the struggle to rebuild following the war; but the landscape survived -- a landscape that influenced a series of events unsurpassed in American history. |