Harpers FerryGuide
Now in Harpers FerryPark closure: Bridge to Maryland Heights & C&O Canal CLOSEDPotomac footbridge: Closed (since July 27, 2026)Potomac River: 1,560 cfs · 1.20 ft (below normal)Shenandoah River: 515 cfs · 1.39 ft (below normal)All conditions →

Photo Credits & Licenses

By Updated Fact-checked

Every image on this site is either a photo by Daniel Hemmerich or used under a license that allows it: public domain, CC0, Creative Commons Attribution or Attribution-ShareAlike. Each is credited under the image and listed below. Images under a share-alike license (CC BY-SA) stay under that license, so if you reuse one, follow its original terms.

Photographers: if an image is credited incorrectly, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

ImageTitleCreatorLicenseSource
Aerial view of Harpers Ferry's hillside homes and St. Peter's steeple surrounded by autumn foliage at dawnAerial of Harpers Ferry at DawnJesse Lee TuckerCC BY-SA 4.0Source
Anthony Hall, the brick administration building of the former Storer College on Camp Hill, Harpers FerryAnthony Hall, former Storer CollegeCarol M. HighsmithPublic domain (Carol M. Highsmith Archive, LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
Brown Appalachian National Scenic Trail sign at Harpers Ferry pointing left to Maine and right to GeorgiaAppalachian Trail sign in Harpers FerryDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Iron truss railroad bridge and the Appalachian Trail footbridge crossing the Potomac beneath Maryland Heights cliffsB&O Potomac River crossing and Appalachian Trail footbridgeAcroterionCC BY-SA 4.0Source
The steel railroad bridge crossing the Potomac beneath the rocky face of Maryland HeightsB&O railroad bridge and Maryland HeightsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Gray boulders at the edge of the Maryland Heights overlook above the rivers and the town of Harpers FerryBoulders at the Maryland Heights overlookDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Brick buildings with two-story porches along a wide Lower Town street under a blue skyBrick buildings in Lower TownDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Walkers crossing the Appalachian Trail footbridge over the Potomac toward the rocky face of Maryland HeightsBridge and Tunnel at Harpers FerryMichael DillonCC BY-SA 4.0Source
C&O Canal towpath in autumn running beside the canal bed just west of Harpers Ferry on the Maryland sideC&O Canal and towpath near Harpers FerryKevin SmithCC BY-SA 3.0Source
Grassy bed of the C&O Canal beside an old stone wall and the towpath, across the Potomac from Harpers FerryC&O Canal bed and towpath across from Harpers FerryDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Portrait of Daniel Hemmerich, smiling, in a black-and-white headshotDaniel HemmerichDaniel Hemmerich (supplied)Owner — all rights reserved—
1859 Frank Leslie's engraving of militia attacking John Brown's raiders near the armory engine house at Harpers FerryHarper’s Ferry insurrection: the battle ground (1859)Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (unnamed special artist)Public domain (LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
1861 photograph of Harpers Ferry after the Confederate evacuation, showing ruins along the Potomac riverbankHarper’s Ferry, photographed immediately after its evacuation by the rebels, 1861C. O. Bostwick (photographer)Public domain (LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
Harpers Ferry and the Potomac River railroad bridges seen at sunrise from the Maryland Heights overlookHarpers Ferry & Potomac River Overlook (HDR)Nicolas RaymondCC BY 2.0Source
Panoramic view of Harpers Ferry where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet, seen from Maryland HeightsHarpers Ferry from Maryland Heights (panorama)Mark FickettCC BY 3.0Source
Harpers Ferry, the rivers and two railroad bridges seen from the rocky Maryland Heights overlook in late summerHarpers Ferry from the Maryland Heights overlookDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
High Street climbing uphill past brick shops and brick sidewalks in Lower Town Harpers FerryHigh Street in Lower TownDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Jefferson Rock, a large shale boulder balanced on stone pillars above the Shenandoah River in Harpers FerryJefferson RockAcroterionCC BY-SA 4.0Source
John Brown's Fort, the small brick armory engine house with a white cupola, in Lower Town on a sunny dayJohn Brown’s FortDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
John Brown's Fort with its arched doors and cupola beside a gravel path and shade trees in Lower TownJohn Brown’s Fort from the sideDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
John Brown's Fort, the small brick armory fire engine house, with a light dusting of snow on the groundJohn Brown’s Fort in snowAcroterionCC BY-SA 4.0Source
Stone Lock 33 of the C&O Canal beside the gravel towpath across the Potomac from Harpers Ferry in summerLock 33, C&O Canal, Harpers FerryBonnachovenCC0Source
Looking down past cliff-top boulders to the Potomac railroad bridges and Harpers Ferry from Maryland HeightsLooking down to the Potomac bridgesDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Historic brick buildings with wooden balconies at the lower end of High Street in Harpers Ferry Lower TownLower High Street, Harpers FerryAcroterionCC BY-SA 4.0Source
Lower Town Harpers Ferry and the two Potomac railroad bridges seen from high on Maryland HeightsLower Town and the Potomac bridges from Maryland HeightsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Lower Town's brick buildings and St. Peter's spire above the Potomac railroad bridges, seen from Maryland HeightsLower Town close-up from Maryland HeightsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Red and gray roofs of Lower Town below Maryland Heights, with the Potomac water gap in the distanceLower Town rooftops from aboveDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Brick sidewalk and old storefronts along a Lower Town street rising toward the hillsLower Town sidewalkDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Brick buildings with wooden porches on a quiet Lower Town street early on a September morningLower Town street in the morningDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Gray rock cliffs of Maryland Heights above green trees, seen from the C&O Canal towpathMaryland Heights cliffsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
1865 albumen photograph by James and Alexander Gardner of Harpers Ferry where the Shenandoah meets the PotomacMeeting of the Shenandoah and Potomac at Harpers Ferry (1865)James Gardner (negative); Alexander Gardner (positive)Public domain (LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
Old stone bridge piers topped with small trees standing in the river near the Point at Harpers FerryOld bridge piers near the PointDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Close view of a weathered stone bridge pier in the river near the Point at Harpers FerryOld stone bridge pierDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Boulders at the Maryland Heights overlook framing Harpers Ferry and the railroad bridges far belowOverlook rocks above Harpers FerryDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
The Potomac railroad bridge and green river islands with the Blue Ridge water gap beyondPotomac bridge and water gapDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
The fenced walkway of the Potomac footbridge running beside the railroad bridge trussesPotomac footbridge walkway (2014)Daniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Sunlit cliffs of Maryland Heights rising above the Potomac River and footbridge, viewed from The PointPotomac River and Maryland HeightsNational Park Service (NPS Photo/Cook), Harpers Ferry NHPCC BY 2.0Source
A rain-soaked street of old houses in Harpers Ferry on a gray September eveningRainy street in Harpers FerryDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Red-and-white striped umbrellas over a restaurant patio beside brick and stone walls in Harpers FerryRestaurant patio in Harpers FerryDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Rocky riffles on the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry with wooded hills behindRiffles on the PotomacDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
The river flowing past an old stone pier toward the Blue Ridge water gap at Harpers FerryRiver and water gap near the PointDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Clear, shallow water over flat rocks at the river's edge near Lower Town, with old piers in the distanceRiver shallows near Lower TownDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Looking along a rope net bridge high in the trees on a zip line course near Harpers FerryRope bridge on a zip line courseDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Stone ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church with an empty window arch on the hill above Lower TownSt. John’s Episcopal Church ruinsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
St. Peter's Catholic Church steeple rising above Lower Town Harpers Ferry with orange autumn treesSt. Peter’s Catholic Church, Harpers FerryJoy SchoenbergerCC BY 3.0Source
Front of St. Peter's Church in Harpers Ferry with its pointed spire against a deep blue skySt. Peter’s Church spireDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church with its tall spire, stone walls and steps under a clear blue skySt. Peter’s Roman Catholic ChurchDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
St. Peter's spire rising above trees with the rocky river and the Blue Ridge gap beyondSt. Peter’s spire above the riversDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Worn stone steps leading up to St. Peter's Church in Harpers FerrySteps up to St. Peter’sDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Quiet Lower Town street in Harpers Ferry lined with brick and stone historic buildings under a blue skyStreet view of Harpers Ferry, West VirginiaCarol M. HighsmithPublic domain (Carol M. Highsmith Archive, LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
The Potomac River upstream of Harpers Ferry with the C&O Canal towpath along the Maryland shoreThe Potomac upstream from Maryland HeightsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
The stone Town's Inn on High Street with a flower-filled patio and blue umbrellasThe Town’s Inn on High StreetDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
The gravel C&O Canal towpath running beneath the rock cliffs of Maryland HeightsTowpath below Maryland HeightsDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—
Snow-covered Harpers Ferry and the Potomac railroad bridges seen from the Maryland Heights overlook in winterView from Maryland Heights (snow)v343790 (Panoramio user)CC BY 3.0Source
Rocky riffles of the Shenandoah River at Harpers Ferry with wooded hills rising beyondView of the Shenandoah River at Harpers FerryCarol M. HighsmithPublic domain (Carol M. Highsmith Archive, LoC: No known restrictions on publication)Source
Long timber railroad trestle beside a gravel path under shade trees in Lower Town Harpers FerryWooden railroad trestle in Lower TownDaniel HemmerichOwner — all rights reserved—

Sources & fact-checking

Facts on this page were last verified against the sources below on . Details like hours, fees and closures change — if you spot something out of date, tell me.

  1. Creative Commons — About CC Licenses

How this guide is researched and fact-checked →

Daniel Hemmerich

Daniel Hemmerich

Daniel Hemmerich is the founder and editor of Harpers Ferry Guide, an independent guide to visiting and understanding Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He researches every page against official sources such as the National Park Service and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, keeps the site’s live conditions…