Maryland Heights

Harper's Ferry was the site of John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal in an attempt to provoke a slave rebellion. It was also an important strategic center for manufacturing guns before the civil war.

Water power was harnessed to run the factories that made the weapons. The Harper's Ferry rifles were especially famous because of their interchangeable parts.

This evening we kayaked on the Potomac River and the town of Harper's Ferry is along the river bank behind me as we face East towards Maryland Heights.

There are old cannon emplacements high on the ridges above us.

link to history of John Brown