This week we had a wonderful time visiting
Harper's Ferry. Most of our cousins and some good friends joined us which made our group of four families - 21 kids and 5 adults.
We met at the Visitor's Center where we paid the six dollars per carload which was the only fee for the entire day.The kids thoroughly enjoyed taking the bus from the parking lot to the little town.
We chose to go this week in order to participate in some actual interpretive programs that the Park Service was offering.We were treated to a walking lecture geared to the kids which discussed John Brown and his plan to overthrow the institution of slavery. The rangers mentioned the incident that Brown witnessed in his childhood of a slave boy his own age being beaten with a coal shovel for a simple infraction. From this point on, Brown became an abolitionist.This fire hall above was the place where Brown was captured after his attempt to liberate the guns made here in Harper's Ferry and to arm the slaves.
This is the monument in his honor. We learned that John Brown is considered to be a controversial figure because he used violence to achieve his ends.The kids were asked to read quotes taken from 6 famous sources during his lifetime and after his death. We then discussed whether these individuals seemed to have supported him or instead were opposed to his mission.
Next, we were able to explore around the river. This side is the Potomac River. Harper's Ferry is the spot where the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers meet to become one, which is called the Potomac as it flows 60 miles to Washington, D.C. A very large gun manufacturing armory was located here using water power from the rivers to fire up its processes at the time of John Brown.100,000 guns were stored in the arsenal here.
This side growing tree just begged to be climbed!
This is an area of the park that I had never seen before. The train that seemed to have no end added to the excitement.
The kids climbed up on this stone wall to observe the view and I had to indulge myself in this group photo of some of this wonderful bunch of friends and cousins.
The next thing I knew they kind of freaked us out a bit by coming out of this tunnel!
This was down a steep hill and it must be some kind of a water run off way. Thank God this probably hasn't been needed in months due to the very dry summer we are having.
Harper's Ferry is also famous for being the place where Lewis and Clark acquired the provisions needed for their Westward journey.
One of the programs that we attended was a hands-on activity featuring representations of Lewis and Clark's haversacks loaded up with supplies that they had with them.
The kids divided up into groups of four and each child took the role of a different sergeant who had specific responsibilities. One was in charge of the haversack itself, another recorded in the famous journal, another was supposed to keep the unit all together and the last was in charge of the supplies.
The Park Ranger had mercy on us and continued our discussion in a beautifully air conditioned room.The actual temperature on the day of our visit was 102 degrees in the shade!!!!
While the younger kids and moms were learning about the westward journeys, the older kids took themselves on the Tour Bus to a different part of the Park to nearby Bolivar Heights which was the site of some Civil war action. Park rangers there gave a walking tour. They caught back up with us after a picnic lunch.
To beat the extreme heat the kids took their shoes off to wade in The Shenandoah River . The water was very low although the rocks were slippery.
When my niece lost her hat which started to float down the river, her cousins were happy to fetch it!
Upon the hill in the background is a Catholic Church. On this trip we didn't have enough time or water to be able to climb up to it. The last thing we did was to walk across the Potomac on the bridge.
These people down below seemed to be having a good time! We were out of time and the heat was taking its toll on all of us so we headed home and by God's Grace, all made it safely. Hopefully we can soon return to see more of this wonderful historic town.
