Harper Cemetery

Another testimony to the American people and European ancestry. The names tell of a specific/unique struggle to survive.

A wonderful old cemetery with a great view. Even though it has graves dating back to the late 18th Century, new burials still take place there. It’s important to remember that other visitors you see may be visiting the recently deceased so please be respectful. Likewise, many of those buried are the family members of local residents. Like much of Harpers Ferry, the cemetery is living history.

Some interesting things about the cemetery:

- There’s a Revolutionary War soldier buried there. His grave was lost for many years and only recently rediscovered during ongoing preservation work.

- There are a number of graves belonging to members of several fraternal orders and many of their gravestones feature highly detailed symbolism that makes them very interesting to study. While some of the symbols are still in use, others have been forgotten. Take the time to look carefully as many contain hidden details that may surprise you.

- You can be buried at the cemetery. The cemetery website has information about the plots for sale.

The trustees of the cemetery also ask that temporary visitors refrain from standing, sitting, leaning or rubbing on the monuments. The exposed location of the cemetery combined with the winter weather and frost heaves cause unseen damage causing some monuments to break very easily.

There are efforts underway to stabilize the monuments, but it’s a time consuming and expensive process. While visiting you may see some monuments laying flat on the ground and broken into several pieces. The monuments sometimes break and fall to the ground in one or two large pieces. However those in many pieces are the result of people standing on the fallen parts. Really. Please don’t do that. The restorations cost thousands of dollars and are paid for by donation. Please report any vandalism you witness to the police immediately. The cemetery is NOT part of the National Park and is maintained by volunteers. Please practice Leave No Trace in the cemetery.

It’s nice to walk around, read the grave stones and take in the view. It’s a quiet and peaceful place to escape the crowds and ponder the history of Harpers Ferry and the people who came before us. See if you can find the gravestone for the town’s founder.

Beautiful historic cemetery with great views down to the confluence to the Potomac and Shenandoah River. Lovely spot to sit and let your thoughts wander!

Who were these people ? Names, some of which perhaps are familiar from history classes, mostly forgotten to the past. As will be the case with us. A beautiful cemetery for its history, its hillside layout and for its view.