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Washington Heritage Trail Visitor Services History Calendar of Events Other Self-Guided Tours Links & Resources
Washington Heritage Trail
 
 
Jefferson County, WV
About Jefferson County
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Jefferson Rock
Shenandoah Canal
Shepherdstown
Entler Hotel
Rumsey Monument and Tobacco Warehouse
Morgan's Grove Park
Peter Burr House
Charles Town
Jefferson County Courthouse and Museum
Zion Episcopal Church
Happy Retreat
St. George's Chapel Ruins
Harewood
Cedar Lawn
Claymont Court/Blakeley
Middleway Historic District
Berkeley County, WV
About Berkeley County
Martinsburg
B&O Roundhouse & Station Complex
Belle Boyd House
Berkeley County Courthouse
Triple Brick Museum
General Adam Stephen House
Green Hill Cemetery
Van Metre Ford Bridge
Bunker Hill Mill
Morgan Chapel
Morgan Cabin
Gerrardstown Historic District
Hays Gerrard House
Mill's Gap
Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hedgesville Historic District
Mt. Zion Episcopal Church
Snodgrass Tavern
Morgan County, WV
About Morgan County
Spruce Pine Hollow Park
Berkeley Springs
Dutch Cemetery
Throgmorton's Inn
Bath Historic District
Berkeley Springs State Park
George Washington's Bathtub
Roman Bath House & Museum of the Berkeley Springs
Washington's Lots
Sir John's Run
Panorama Overlook
Great Cacapon
Camp Hill Cemetery
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Tunnel
Coolfont Manor House
Cacapon State Park

Washington Heritage Trail



mian3History is the heart of the Washington Heritage Trail, much of it centered around the time George Washington spent in the region. The entire area was once part of Thomas Lord Fairfax’s millions of acres. His young protege Washington surveyed throughout the region, returned often and eventually owned land in all three counties. Washington’s first elected position was to represent this area in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He defended the region in the French and Indian War and drew from it some of his most valued soldiers for the Revolution. Other colorful historic characters populate sites along the trail including Washington colleagues like General Adam Stephen and inventor James Rumsey. John Brown and Belle Boyd owe their notoriety to the Civil War.

main4History also casts the area as key in the development of transportation west including river traffic, canals and the seminal B&O Railroad which served as the cause for tearing the three counties from the Motherland of Virginia and tossing them to the new state of West Virginia.
Five 18th-century towns still serve as the centerpiece of life in the area offering lodging, dining, shopping and cultural activities. All bear the imprint of association with George Washington. Harpers Ferry was selected by the first president as site of a federal armory, an action that brought Lewis and Clark there to outfit their famous expedition and John Brown to launch his failed insurrection. Today, the town is celebrated in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Charles Town was developed by and named for Washington’s younger brother, Charles. The city recently completed a multi-million-dollar restoration of its downtown. Citizens of Shepherdstown proposed their riverside settlement for consideration as the nation’s capital and today it reigns as one of the most chic towns in the state and home to Shepherd University. Berkeley Springs was Washington’s favorite getaway where he came to “take the waters,” and helped establish it as the country’s first spa. Today, the town is still known as a spa getaway and as one of the best small art towns in the country. Martinsburg was founded by Washington’s military colleague, Adam Stephen and boasts several phases of industrial development as first a railroad then a mill center. Today, it is the only city along the trail.

This website and accompanying guide to the trail is laid out by county, highlights the five towns and leads you in detail to each of the more than 40 official sites.

 



Copyright © 2010, Washington Heritage Trail, Inc. Funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration.