HARPERS FERRY, West Virginia, United States — The exterior of John Brown's Fort stands in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia. This brick structure, originally the fire engine house of Harpers Ferry Armory, was the site of abolitionist John Brown's last stand during his 1859 raid. The building has been relocated from its original position to its current location in Lower Town.
Photograph by David Coleman. John Brown's Fort, a small brick building in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia, stands as a powerful symbol of the struggle against slavery in pre-Civil War America. Originally constructed in the 1840s as the fire engine house for the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, this modest structure gained national significance during John Brown's raid on October 17, 1859. The building's simple yet sturdy brick exterior belies its outsized role in American history. It was here that John Brown and his followers made their last stand during their attempt to seize the federal armory and initiate a slave rebellion. For 36 hours, Brown and his men held out against local militia and Marines led by then-Colonel Robert E. Lee before being captured. Despite its name, the structure was never designed as a fort. It earned this moniker due to its brief use as an improvised stronghold during Brown's raid. The building's current location is not its original site; it has been moved several times throughout its history. Its first relocation occurred in the 1890s to accommodate the construction of a new Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line. The National Park Service later returned it to Lower Town Harpers Ferry, though not to its exact original location.
Size: 6706px × 4476px
Location: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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