Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia preserves the town at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where abolitionist John Brown led his famous 1859 raid on the federal armory — a pivotal event that accelerated the nation's march toward civil war. Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War and witnessed the largest surrender of Union troops during the war in September 1862. After the war, Storer College — one of the first integrated schools in the United States — was established in the town to educate formerly enslaved people. The Niagara Movement, the precursor to the NAACP, held its second meeting at Storer College in 1906. The park was established in 1944.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →The story of Harpers Ferry NHP is inseparable from the lives of the people who were enslaved here. For generations, their stories went untold. The interpretive materials now targeted for revision were created to ensure these voices would finally be heard.
The administration has ordered revised content that includes the language: “target practice.”, “They threw his body into the river and continued to fire shots at it.”, “a drunken mob murders”, and “Some townspeople, enraged by the mayor's death, kill William Thompson and toss his body into the Potomac.”.
Why this matters: The history of slavery at Harpers Ferry NHP was suppressed for generations. The materials now being targeted represent decades of work by historians, descendants of enslaved people, and community advocates to ensure these stories are finally told. Removing them would re-erase history that has only recently been acknowledged.
All documents uploaded, with areas of concern highlighted, for context.
Civil War Driving Tour, p. 2: this publication includes quotes from secession documents and Alexander Stephens on the cause of secession. True, but is this considered cherry picking and denigrating southerners? If it needs to be changed, we can just remove this text box.
John Brown Raiders handout: this document refers to townspeople using the body of a dead insurrectionist for “target practice.” Does this denigrate the townspeople? We can reword this: “They threw his body into the river and continued to fire shots at it.”
John Brown's Raid timeline: this document states “a drunken mob murders” an insurrectionist. Does this denigrate the townspeople? We can reword to "Some townspeople, enraged by the mayor's death, kill William Thompson and toss his body into the Potomac.“
Life and Times of John Brown: this document states a ”mob murders“ an abolitionist. Does this denigrate the murderers? We can reword to: ”Abolitionist editor Elijah Lovejoy is murdered for his views.“
Storer College: ”White people tried everything from mob violence to vandalism and slanderous newspaper articles to pulling strings…" to stop th...
Harpers Ferry NHP in MD preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The park films at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Why this matters: Harpers Ferry NHP is part of a network of over 400 national parks that serve as America's classrooms. The interpretive materials here were developed by subject-matter experts to help visitors understand the full story of this place. When historically accurate content is removed, the public loses access to its own history.
Two park films were reviewed. One has word choices that may violate SO3431. A transcipt is uploaded with sections of concern highlighted.
Harpers Ferry NHP in MD is one of hundreds of National Park Service sites where interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. This directive requires parks to review materials that could be considered negative about past or living Americans — a standard that threatens the factual historical record these sites were created to preserve.
Why this matters: Harpers Ferry NHP is one of 466+ National Park Service sites where historically accurate interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. Over 300 million people visit national parks each year. For many — especially schoolchildren — these visits are their first and deepest encounter with American history.
Harpers Ferry NHP in MD is one of hundreds of National Park Service sites where interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. This directive requires parks to review materials that could be considered negative about past or living Americans — a standard that threatens the factual historical record these sites were created to preserve.
Why this matters: Harpers Ferry NHP is one of 466+ National Park Service sites where historically accurate interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. Over 300 million people visit national parks each year. For many — especially schoolchildren — these visits are their first and deepest encounter with American history.
Harpers Ferry NHP in MD preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The exhibit panels at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
Why this matters: Harpers Ferry NHP is part of a network of over 400 national parks that serve as America's classrooms. The interpretive materials here were developed by subject-matter experts to help visitors understand the full story of this place. When historically accurate content is removed, the public loses access to its own history.
Please see the attached document. It is large, but designed to give content while providing visibility for the concerns.
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