John Brown’s Fort Plaque, Harpers Ferry
On the walls of the iconic John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a simple yet powerful plaque stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of abolitionist John Brown and his 1859 raid. Mounted on the red brick exterior of this historic structure, the plaque is both a reminder and a tribute to the fight against slavery in America.
The plaque’s text reads:
“THAT THIS NATION MIGHT HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, THAT SLAVERY SHOULD BE REMOVED FOREVER FROM AMERICAN SOIL, JOHN BROWN AND HIS 21 MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES. TO COMMEMORATE THEIR HEROISM, THIS TABLET IS PLACED ON THIS BUILDING WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN KNOWN AS JOHN BROWN’S FORT BY THE ALUMNI OF STORER COLLEGE 1918.”
Erected in 1918 by alumni of Storer College—a historically Black college that operated in Harpers Ferry from 1867 to 1955—this marker was placed in honor of John Brown and his small band of followers who attempted to incite an armed slave revolt by seizing the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. Although the raid failed militarily, it sparked a national reckoning that would ultimately lead to the Civil War.
John Brown’s Fort, the building to which this plaque is affixed, is now the most visited historic site in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It stands as a symbol of both the struggle for freedom and the resilience of those who fight for justice, even against overwhelming odds.
Today, visitors from around the world come to this site to reflect on the legacy of John Brown and his men. The plaque—weathered by time but steadfast in purpose—reminds us that the fight for human dignity and equality is always worth remembering.
John Brown’s Fort Plaque, Harpers Ferry
On the walls of the iconic John Brown’s Fort in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a simple yet powerful plaque stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of abolitionist John Brown and his 1859 raid. Mounted on the red brick exterior of this historic structure, the plaque is both a reminder and a tribute to the fight against slavery in America.
The plaque’s text reads:
“THAT THIS NATION MIGHT HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, THAT SLAVERY SHOULD BE REMOVED FOREVER FROM AMERICAN SOIL, JOHN BROWN AND HIS 21 MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES. TO COMMEMORATE THEIR HEROISM, THIS TABLET IS PLACED ON THIS BUILDING WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN KNOWN AS JOHN BROWN’S FORT BY THE ALUMNI OF STORER COLLEGE 1918.”
Erected in 1918 by alumni of Storer College—a historically Black college that operated in Harpers Ferry from 1867 to 1955—this marker was placed in honor of John Brown and his small band of followers who attempted to incite an armed slave revolt by seizing the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. Although the raid failed militarily, it sparked a national reckoning that would ultimately lead to the Civil War.
John Brown’s Fort, the building to which this plaque is affixed, is now the most visited historic site in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It stands as a symbol of both the struggle for freedom and the resilience of those who fight for justice, even against overwhelming odds.
Today, visitors from around the world come to this site to reflect on the legacy of John Brown and his men. The plaque—weathered by time but steadfast in purpose—reminds us that the fight for human dignity and equality is always worth remembering.