Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Invites Visitors to Discover a Crossroads That Changed the Civil War

As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites visitors to explore a place where the nation's ideals were challenged, contested, and strengthened.

On Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the park will host "Harpers Ferry's Impact on the Civil War," a special day that connects visitors to the people and events that shaped the outcome of the Civil War and the nation's long journey toward freedom.

Set at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Harpers Ferry was more than a backdrop to history. Its geography, industry and people made it a strategic prize, a flashpoint in the fight over slavery and a place where the meaning of the United States was fiercely contested.

Program schedule

11 a.m. - Disaster, Struggle, Triumph
Join a park ranger at Bolivar Heights to learn how the 126th New York Infantry Regiment endured early disaster at the 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry and later became part of the larger Union effort that helped preserve the nation and advance freedom for 4 million enslaved people.

1 p.m. - "To Reoccupy Harpers Ferry": Exploring the Role of Harpers Ferry in the Gettysburg Campaign
Dr. Jennifer M. Murray, the Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies and Director of the Civil War Center at Shepherd University, will explore Harpers Ferry's strategic importance during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign and its role in helping Federal forces confront the Army of Northern Virginia's second invasion of the North. The program will be held at Anthony Hall on Camp Hill.

Murray's recent book, They Are Dead and Yet They Live, co-edited with Brian Matthew Jordan and published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2026, will be available for purchase and signing before and after the program.

2 p.m. - Grand Civic & Military BBQ Fundraising Event
Visitors can close the day with a spirited barbecue hosted by the Harpers Ferry Park Association, the park's nonprofit partner. The event will feature patriotic and Civil War-era music by the Furnace Mountain Band. Tickets are $25 per person, and reservations are required. Proceeds support interpretive and educational programs at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Visitors are encouraged to make a day of it: walk historic streets, stand on landscapes where the future of the country was contested and take part in programs that bring America's stories to life. All programs are included with park admission unless otherwise noted. Barbecue reservations and additional details are available at nps.gov/hafe and harpersferryhistory.org.

Throughout 2026, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and its partners will offer programs that invite visitors to reflect on the nation's 250th anniversary by exploring the places, people and choices that shaped the United States.

The National Park Service is proud to help lead the nation's 250th anniversary celebration through special events and experiences at parks across America, including many historically significant sites with direct connections to the formation of our country. Learn more at nps.gov.