PARKS AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • MUSEUMS • LIBRARIES
Parks and Tourist Attractions
The Washington Heritage Trail in West Virginia's scenic Eastern Panhandle passes by places made famous by George Washington's visits, such as the nation's first warm springs spa at Berkeley Springs (formerly known as Bath). Winding through three counties, five 18th-century towns, and surrounding rural areas, it is a favorite destination for family getaways and romantic weekends: http://www.washingtonheritagetrail.org/index.html
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. A visit to this quaint, historic community, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, is like stepping into the past. Whether you stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike our trails and battlefields, Harpers Ferry offers a wide variety of experiences for visitors of all ages. Discover Harpers Ferry and see if you agree with Thomas Jefferson who wrote, the scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic. : http://www.nps.gov/hafe/
The Jefferson County Courthouse throughout its history has been in the thick of controversy. Following John Brown’s three-day occupation of the US Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859, he was captured and charged for “conspiring with slaves to commit treason and murder.” At the conclusion of his trial at the courthouse, Brown was found guilty of murder and treason and later hanged just several blocks away. The courthouse gained notoriety again during the southern coal mine strikes for unionization. The early 1920s saw the growing dissatisfaction of miners in the southern coal fields. Following the murder of Sid Hatfield in August 1921 and protests at the State Capitol, many armed themselves and marched into the coalfields near Blair, Logan, Sharples and Jeffrey. Federal troops quieted the area, but many were arrested for their protests. Leaders of the United Mine Workers of America were brought to trial at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Bill Blizzard and other demonstrators were held in the adjacent jail. The courthouse has been renovated at least twice–once following the Civil War and again in 1916. The main structure is designed in the Greek Revival style; the cupola represents a Georgian departure from the overall character of the building. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/ch/jefferson.html
C&O Canal National Historical Park. Preserving America’s colorful Canal era and transportation history, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is 184.5 miles of adventure. Originally, the C&O Canal was a lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and other agricultural products floated down the canal to market. Today millions of visitors hike or bike the C&O Canal each year to enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities available. http://www.nps.gov/choh/
The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. National Register properties in Jefferson County, WV can be found at http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/WV/Jefferson/state.html
MUSEUMS
The Jefferson County Museum in Charles Town contains artifacts from the early Native Americans up to World War II. There is something for everyone: Civil War relics and uniforms, fine silver and china, photographs, antique dolls and toys, engravings and many other beautiful and historical items. Located near the corner of Washington and Samuel Streets, the curator can be contacted:Curator@JeffCtyWVMuseum.org .A description of the museum is located at http://jeffctywvmuseum.org/
The Historic Shepherdstown Museum, established in the oldest extant section of the former Entler Hotel in 1983, was founded to preserve and display artifacts, furnishings, and preserve and documents of historic interest that might otherwise have been lost for people of Shepherdstown and Jefferson County. The first floor of the museum, formerly the ladies' and gentlemen's parlors, is now decorated as a formal reception room. The second and third floors include a room furnished as a hotel bedroom, a Victorian sitting room, and five rooms containing local artifacts including a fine display of local American Indian tools and artifacts. The adjacent James Rumsey Steamboat Museum shown here contains a working replica of the first steamboat in America. The Museum has also been responsible for having books reprinted that are a major source of history of the area. These are on sale at the museum, by mail, and at some local stores. http://www.historicshepherdstown.com/museum.html
LIBRARIES
South Jefferson Public Library, Summit Point: http://www.youseemore.com/southjefferson/
Bolivar/Harpers Ferry Public Library, Harpers Ferry: http://www.youseemore.com/BHF/default.asp
Shepherdstown Public Library, Shepherdstown: http://www.lib.shepherdstown.wv.us/
The Olde Charles Town Library, Charles Town: http://www.ctlibrary.org/
