Cultural Landscape Report, Parts I-II: Camp Hill

Heritage Landscapes; O'Donnell, Patricia; Mardorf, Carrie; Graulty, Sarah

Camp Hill is located within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Nestled between the convergence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, the historic cultural landscape sits atop a knoll, overlooking the surrounding scenic landscape. Developed over time, the Camp Hill landscape has been home to several groups of people and facilities, including important military events as well as the creation of one of the first African American colleges in the United States. Today, the cultural landscape serves as an important public recreation and educational resource where visitors can interpret the historic legacy of Camp Hill and Harpers Ferry. As outlined in the scope of work, Heritage Landscapes began the process of developing the Camp Hill CLR by undertaking archival and historical research to gain a detailed understanding of the property and its evolution over time. Heritage Landscapes reviewed the archival resources provided by National Park Service staff and other resources at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Archives (HFA). A wide variety of documentary materials, including historical photographs, sketches, engravings, plans, maps, surveys, and aerial photographs, were sought and obtained to provide evidence of property character, features, conditions, and land uses over time. Materials gathered were organized chronologically, analyzed, and verified with reference to field observation of the existing conditions of the park landscape. This process revealed eras of development and change at Camp Hill that relate to uses of the landscape. Heritage Landscapes sought a full array of source materials to provide verification of site history; however, the quantity and quality of detailed documentation varies and sometimes sources with partial or incomplete information were located. All available source materials were used as primary evidence while less detailed or incomplete sources functioned as supplemental evidence to the greatest degree possible. Information gleaned from all documentary sources is presented in the discussion within the history chapters. Each era of the landscape from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century to the present is discussed in chronological order and illustrated by a sequence of graphic materials. Period plans for select times throughout the eras highlight landscape appearance and character throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The first period captures the Civil War era in 1865, the second period captures the formative years of Storer College circa 1909, while the third period focuses on the closing of Storer College circa 1954. The last period captures landscape alterations made circa 1964 during National Park Service ownership.

Cultural Landscape Report, Parts I-II: Camp Hill

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