“The Point” in Harpers Ferry is the dramatic tip of land where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, framed by steep mountain walls in three states—West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Historically, it was both a strategic military position and a transportation hub, with rail lines, canals, and bridges converging there. During the Civil War, it offered commanding views of the surrounding valleys, making it a coveted spot for both Union and Confederate forces. Today, it’s the town’s most iconic viewpoint, where visitors can stand at the confluence, look across to Maryland Heights, and see the same powerful landscape that shaped Harpers Ferry’s history.
Harpers Ferry is historically significant as the site of John Brown’s 1859 raid on the federal armory, an event that intensified national tensions over slavery and helped precipitate the Civil War. Its strategic location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers made it a critical transportation and industrial hub in the 19th century, and during the war it changed hands between Union and Confederate forces multiple times. The town’s history reflects the intersection of abolitionism, military strategy, and early American industry, making it a key landmark in understanding the political and social fractures that shaped the United States.
