Lost History Hike of Harpers Ferry & Frederick Douglass

Schedule

Sat, 30 May, 2020 at 09:00 am to Fri, 17 Oct, 2025 at 11:30 am

UTC-04:00

Location

Appalachian Trail Conservancy | Harpers Ferry, WV

Advertisement
Lace up your lost history hiking boots and walk in the footsteps of Frederick Douglass in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia!
About this Event

Enjoy a new walking tour experience through the historic streets of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, its principal attractions and the former campus of Storer College, established in 1867.

Learn more about the enduring relationship and friendship of John Brown and Frederick Douglass, John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859 and the subsequent visits Douglass made to Harpers Ferry during his support and service to Storer College, West Virginia's first historically Black college.

Learn about the lost history of the varied connections of Frederick Douglass and members of his family to Harpers Ferry and the groundbreaking achievements of graduates of Storer whom Douglass worked alongside within the region and nationally. Additionally, learn about the lost history of the founding of Storer College that is not currently told and presented by existing historic interpretation, as well as the early support offered by Frederick Douglass and his network of political connections and philanthropists. Learn about the connections of Storer College to Howard University in Washington, D.C. and other HBCUs in West Virginia and the region.

---

Walking tour will start at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and proceed to the Hilltop House Anthony Hall on the former campus of Storer College, where Douglass delivered a famous address on John Brown, Lockwood House, Harper Cemetery, Jefferson Rock, John Brown's Fort, and other landmarks.

---

  • Tour will be limited in size; please sign up to confirm attendance.
  • Photography is encouraged; will be visiting several historic sites and panoramic views.
  • Hike includes off-road walking, stairs and considerable hills. Total walk is nearly 3 miles. Please bring liquids and make appropriate accommodations to the weather conditions.
  • Harpers Ferry is open for business and following the tour your local patronage is encouraged.
  • No bathroom access.
  • Dogs welcomed.

---

** Directions and Parking information ** ->

**There are two large FREE parking lots on Filmore Street, near the corner with Zachary Taylor Street and behind the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church. **

** Plan your visit ** -> https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/index.htm

** West Virginia Tourism - Harpers Ferry **-> https://wvtourism.com/harpers-ferry-national-park/

---

TOUR LEADER

John Muller, author of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia (2012) and Mark Twain in Washington, D.C.: The Adventures of a Capital Correspondent (2013) is currently at work on a book about the lost history of Frederick Douglass on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Muller has presented widely throughout the DC-Baltimore metropolitan area at venues including the Library of Congress, Newseum, Politics and Prose, American Library in Paris and local universities. As well, in the past two years he has presented on the "Lost History" of Frederick Douglass in Baltimore, Cambridge, Centreville, Cumberland, Denton, Easton, Frederick, Frostburg, Hagerstown, Salisbury, St. Michaels and other local cities and towns throughout the state of Maryland.

Muller has been featured on C-SPAN’s BookTV and C-SPAN’s American History TV, as well as in the pages of the Baltimore Sun, Cumberland Times-News, Spirit of Jefferson, Star Democrat, Washington Post and the airwaves of WDVM (Hagerstown) NBC4 (Washington), WPFW, WAMU, WYPR, Delmarva Public Radio and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.


Event Photos
Event Photos
Event Photos
Event Photos
Event Photos
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 24.97

Lost History Associates

Host or Publisher Lost History Associates

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Harpers Ferry

Ghost Tour
Thu, 02 Oct at 08:00 pm Ghost Tour

St Peter'S Catholic Church, 100 Church St, Harpers Ferry, WV

GHOST-HUNTS
Sourcing the Fire's Day Walk Weekend
Fri, 03 Oct at 04:00 pm Sourcing the Fire's Day Walk Weekend

Friends Wilderness Center

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
Volleyball with the Missionaries
Fri, 03 Oct at 07:00 pm Volleyball with the Missionaries

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

RELIGIOUS
Ghost Tour
Fri, 03 Oct at 08:00 pm Ghost Tour

St Peter'S Catholic Church, 100 Church St, Harpers Ferry, WV

GHOST-HUNTS
Harpers Ferry Highland Games 2025
Sat, 04 Oct at 09:00 am Harpers Ferry Highland Games 2025

235 Sam Michaels Lane, Harpers Ferry, WV, United States, West Virginia 25425

SPORTS
Lost History Hike of Harpers Ferry & Frederick Douglass
Sat, 30 May at 09:00 am Lost History Hike of Harpers Ferry & Frederick Douglass

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
Birding Walk - Hawk Migration
Tue, 30 Sep at 12:30 pm Birding Walk - Hawk Migration

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Sourcing the Fire's Day Walk Weekend
Fri, 03 Oct at 04:00 pm Sourcing the Fire's Day Walk Weekend

Friends Wilderness Center

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
GOAT Experience: The Running of  the W**d Eaters!
Sat, 04 Oct at 09:00 am GOAT Experience: The Running of the W**d Eaters!

Friends Wilderness Center

NONPROFIT CONTESTS
Nighttime Critter Walk Under a (Nearly) Full Moon
Sat, 04 Oct at 07:00 pm Nighttime Critter Walk Under a (Nearly) Full Moon

Friends Wilderness Center

NONPROFIT TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Lantern Tour: Strange Story of Harpers Ferry
Fri, 10 Oct at 07:00 pm Lantern Tour: Strange Story of Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

GOAT Experience: The Running of  the W**d Eaters!
Sat, 11 Oct at 09:00 am GOAT Experience: The Running of the W**d Eaters!

Friends Wilderness Center

NONPROFIT CONTESTS
Rolling Ridge Bird Walk
Tue, 14 Oct at 07:30 am Rolling Ridge Bird Walk

Friends Wilderness Center

NONPROFIT TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Forest Bathing with Roots and Rocks Adventures
Thu, 16 Oct at 10:00 am Forest Bathing with Roots and Rocks Adventures

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
In the Footsteps of John Brown
Fri, 17 Oct at 11:00 am In the Footsteps of John Brown

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

PERFORMANCES ART
Lantern Tour: Strange Story of Harpers Ferry
Fri, 17 Oct at 07:00 pm Lantern Tour: Strange Story of Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Fall Foliage Adventure Race
Sat, 18 Oct at 07:00 am Fall Foliage Adventure Race

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

SPORTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
October Earth & Sky Adventures at Sweet Run State Park
Sat, 18 Oct at 06:00 pm October Earth & Sky Adventures at Sweet Run State Park

Sweet Run State Park

TRIPS-ADVENTURES MUSIC
Weekend Retreat in Harper's Ferry
Fri, 24 Oct at 10:00 am Weekend Retreat in Harper's Ferry

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community

HEALTH-WELLNESS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
GOAT Experience: The Running of  the W**d Eaters!
Sat, 25 Oct at 09:00 am GOAT Experience: The Running of the W**d Eaters!

Friends Wilderness Center

NONPROFIT CONTESTS

What's Happening Next in Harpers Ferry?

Discover Harpers Ferry Events