Best things to do in Harpers Ferry

At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, you'll see the center of 19th century industry. The park features many small museums and exhibits, battlefields, uninhabited hillside houses, and picturesque streets. Take a guided tour with a ranger and hear about the town's history, which began 8,000 years ago. See galleries such as the wax museum, the blacksmith shop, and the clocks and jewelry exhibit, or visit the bookshop, tavern, and the dry goods store. Plan your visit in advance in order to get the most out of this attraction.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a casino, hotel and thoroughbred horse racing complex located in Charles Town, West Virginia, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Washington D.C. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment.

Jefferson Rock is a rock formation on the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. It consists of several large masses of Harpers shale, piled one upon the other, that overlook the Shenandoah River just prior to its confluence with the Potomac River. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on October 15, 1966.

Commemorating the significant Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War, Antietam National Battlefield is a protected area featuring the battlefield, an educational visitor's center, a field hospital museum, and a National Military Cemetery. Beginning on September 17, 1862, Union forces halted the Confederate Army's first invasion of the North, which led to President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Later, it became known as one of the bloodiest single-day battles of the Civil War, with 23,000 casualties. You can take a self-guided, 13.7 km (8.5 mi) driving tour of the battlefield. It features 11 stops. You may purchase an audio tour to accompany your drive if you wish.

Take a guided tour of Luray Caverns, subterranean caves that were discovered in 1878 and are now a National Historic Landmark. Your knowledgeable guide will identify and explain some of the caves' most impressive formations, such as Leaning Column, Titania's Veil, Dream Lake, and Double Column. Listen to the song of the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which makes stalactites sing by tapping them. The admission fee includes your tour, as well as entrance to the Car and Carriage Caravan and Luray Valley Museum.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia occupies a prominent location on the heights above Harpers Ferry. The original church was built in 1833 in a pseudo-Gothic style which it kept through the Civil War, the only church in Harpers Ferry to escape destruction during the war. The church was extensively altered in 1896 in the then-popular Neo-Gothic style to produce the church seen today. The church commands a sweeping vista across the gorge of the Shenandoah River above its confluence with the Potomac River. The street along the side of the church building is part of the Appalachian Trail. A short trail leads from the church to Jefferson Rock. St. Peter's Church is a mission church of St. James in Charles Town. A Mass is offered at the historic church Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Sweet treats and history come together at True Treats Historic Candy, America's only research-based candy store dedicated to teaching the public about the surprising story behind some of the world's most popular confectionery. You'll find the shop organized in chorological order, with a little history on each label--and if you wish to know more, the shopkeepers will be more than happy to provide further insight. Combination shop and museum, this venue sells all kinds of retro favorites, from simple toffees and taffies, to licorice twists and bubblegum cigars. There's lots to explore here, much to learn, and plenty to take home to friends and family.