Harpers Ferry, near
Charles Town (
not Charleston), was the site of John Brown's 1859 attempt to seize a federal arsenal so that he could lead a slave revolt. Brown's small force battled U.S. troops under the command of Robert E. Lee but was quickly defeated. Brown was captured and later executed. The rebellion may have been ill-starred, but it further inflamed the country's division over the issue of slavery and helped set the stage for the Civil War, which began two years later.
Today, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park preserves much of the town as it was during Brown's era. There are museums and shops in the area—including a wax museum depicting Brown's struggles. Regularly staged events re-create moments from that troubled period in U.S. history. Civil War buffs will also want to visit Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, which is just north of Harpers Ferry. 220 mi/355 km northeast of Charleston.
