HARPERS FERRY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The National Park Service is hosting a series of special events to commemorate abolitionist John Brown’s attempt to incite an anti-slavery uprising by seizing weapons from the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry.
The raid, which took place on October 16, 1859, involved Brown and 21 others—both African American and White—attacking the armory in what was then Virginia, the largest slaveholding state in the Union.
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Brown’s goal was to arm an anti-slavery force and ignite liberation movements.
Though the raid was quickly suppressed by U.S. Marines, it heightened tensions nationwide, influencing the 1860 presidential election and setting the stage for the Civil War.
The park’s commemorative events include two programs, “At All Times Ready” and “Clearing the Sky.”
On October 19-20, park rangers and the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company will offer “At All Times Ready,” an immersive experience highlighting the raid and its significance in American civil rights history.
Programs will be held at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., beginning at the Green in Lower Town and concluding at the historic U.S. Armory fire engine house, known as John Brown’s Fort.
Reenactors will be available to answer questions at the fort from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Clearing the Sky,” a two-part program exploring John Brown’s raid and the trial that followed, will be offered on October 18, October 25, and December 2.
The tour begins at 11 a.m. in Lower Town and continues at 1:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Charles Town, where Brown was tried.
The tour ends at the site of Brown’s execution and the Jefferson County Museum, which features artifacts such as the wagon that transported Brown to his hanging.
The walking tour covers approximately one mile, and visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
