Only 309 people can call the small town of Harpers Ferry home. But more than half a million visitors stop by each year to see the site of the United States Amory and Arsenal, which John Brown raided in 1859 in a failed attempt to end slavery. Situated at the scenic intersection of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, Harpers Ferry now has a national park built around the historic site. The downtown has old-timey shops and restaurants and a housing stock that looks as attractive as it did in the 19th century, thanks to the Harpers Ferry Historic Town Foundation.

The Houses
Thanks to limited building lots, subdivision development never took place here. But as the population ages and downsizes, it is easier to find 18th-, 19th-, and early-20th-century houses starting around $150,000. Some of the earliest structures were destroyed during the Civil War, but there are Federal houses from the 1830s still standing in “Upper Town,” alongside Queen Annes from the late 1800s.

Charleston West Virginia is a common stop for visitors on extended West Virginia tours. With only a few hours transportation by car separating many of the paramount stops on West Virginia vacations, like Summersville, Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg, a more thorough exploration of the small state is possible. Charleston West Virginia is the state capital and a large city that exudes the appeal and friendly atmosphere of a small town. The city offers an abundance of excellent amenities where you can usually find most necessities and services you might need. The city brims with many urban delights yet is a short drive away from mountain adventure and outdoor recreation, exhibiting the best of the city and the countryside.

Charleston attractions include Capital Complex, situated along the edge of the beautiful Kanawha River. Here locals and visitors enjoy leisurely strolls along the water in the warm months as well as many city events and activities. Many visitors enjoy tours through the West Virginia Capitol Building Monday through Friday with local guides. The Science Museum and Cultural Center, which presents many live performances, are also both popular attractions often visited on a Charleston vacation. Charleston tourism thrives partly because the city acts much like a crossroads of West Virginia, between the Midwest and east and the south and north.