Harpers Ferry

American  

[hahr-perz] / ˈhɑr pərz /

Or Harper's Ferry

noun

1. a town in NE West Virginia at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers: site of John Brown's raid 1859.

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Harper's Ferry British  

/ ˈhɑːpəz /

noun

1. a village in NE West Virginia, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers: site of an arsenal seized by John Brown (1859). Pop: 302 (2003 est)

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Harpers Ferry Cultural  

1. The place now in West Virginia where the militant abolitionist John Brown was captured in 1859, after he seized a federal arsenal there.

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Example Sentences

His band quickly took control of a federal armory and rifle factory in the sleeping town of Harpers Ferry.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

“The thing I’ll miss most from home is my mom’s stuffing, it’s my favorite,” said Clayton Stock-Friends, a young member of the West Virginia National Guard from Harpers Ferry, sporting a red beret and sunglasses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

He was the man who, in 1859, led his sons and fellow abolitionists, Black and white, on a raid of the federal armory at Harpers Ferry in Virginia, now in West Virginia.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

As a solo director, Albert has worked on the hilarious Raid on Harpers Ferry parody "Good Lord Bird," "Alpha" and now, "The Continental: From the World of John Wick."

From Salon • Oct. 6, 2023

Harpers Ferry is an interesting place for a number of reasons.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson