Virginius Island: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, National Park Service

Joseph, Maureen; Hanna, Jennifer; Wheelock, Perry

Virginius Island is located in Harpers Ferry Historical Park, at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is comprised of 2,336 acres of land in WV, MD and VA. Virginius Island comprises about 13 of those acres and is located entirely in WV. The island is currently treated as an archeological preserve containing various archeological sites and building ruins associated with the 19th industrial and residential development on the island. Beginning in the 18th century, the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers were harnessed for power and transportation. Due to its location, Harpers Ferry and later Virginius Island became important manufacturing areas. During the 19th century residential communities developed on the eastern end of the Island of Virginius, adjacent to Lower Town, Harpers Ferry. Remnants of historic structures associated with these development periods are still visible in the landscape.The cultural landscape of Virginius Island has 3 periods of historical significance: 1750-1820, when the Shenandoah Canal was established and the first mill on the island was constructed; 1820-1855 when the island was organized into smaller parcels of land, the majority of structures were constructed, and the milling industry was established; 1855-1890 when the island community was consolidated under one owner and experienced destruction caused by the Civil War and floods. These 3 identified periods are considered historically significant under National Register Criteria A, B, C, and D. Despite frequent flooding, remnants of features illustrating historic development remain visible on the island. These include industrial ruins of cotton and flour mills, and remains of historic waterways and residential structures. Once the location of a rail line, road systems, residential and manufacturing structures, orchards and gardens, Virginius Island is currently treated as an archeological treasure. A network of trails leads the visitor along the historic road system and nature trails that follow the shoreline. The integrity of the historic railroad circulation is preserved as a branch of the CSX follows the original 1836 rail alignment. Vegetation and the destructive floodwaters, have contributed to the deterioration of the ruins. Water intake tunnels, canals, raceways and headgates constitute the remnants of the original water system designed for transporting goods and for powering the mills. Foundations from two cotton mills, a flour mill and a pulp mill are the only remaining structures of the once prosperous industries. Foundations of five individual dwellings and rubble of the row house complex comprise the ruins of former residences on the island. In 1996, two major floods inundated the island causing major damage to the shoreline ruins, eroding away part of the trail system and toppling trees. Flood debris accumulated on the island and caused the park to close the island to visitors until the summer of 2000. By 2003, the park completed stabilization of the shoreline mill ruins and water systems to protect these structures from the effects of future floods and rapid vegetative growth. In 2004-5 the management efforts will be focused on resurfacing the trails and cleaning up the debris left from the flood and stabilization projects. Through the stabilization of structural ruins, management of vegetation, and reestablishment of historic circulation, the remnants of the industrial and residential community will be well preserved.

Virginius Island: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, National Park Service

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