Hydroelectric Power Plant
National Historic Landmark — Harpers Ferry, West Virginia — Jefferson County
Also known as the Potomac Power Plant, the Hydroelectric Power Plant at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park harnessed the power of the Potomac River. The plant has powered the U. S. government’s 1799 musket factory and arsenal, a 1834 tilt-hammer shop, and a 1853 rolling mill. After the Civil War, the federal government sold the facility. In 1899, the Harpers Ferry Electric Light and Power Co., which powered a paper mill, provided the electricity for streetlights in the Town of Harpers Ferry and the Town of Brunswick, Maryland. The mill and the powerhouse were upgraded in 1925 following a fire. Although transfered through several sales, the facility continued to produce through 1991.
External Links
Nomination Form PDF
Recent Articles
Inside Appalachian Escapes: Themed rentals, escape rooms, and a love letter to West Virginia
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — What began as a search for an affordable retirement option has turned into one of southern West Virginia’s most imaginative...
West Virginia bottler wins silver award at international water competition
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Le Sage Natural Water, of Lesage, has been awarded a silver medal for its purified water at the 36th annual Berkeley...
West Virginia uniquely prepared to dominate 21st-century outdoor economy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is uniquely prepared to dominate in the 21st-century outdoor economy of the U.S., thanks to its unmatched...
Flood risk outpaces warnings, advocates say, as W.Va. considers changes to resiliency fund
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the W.Va. House of Delegates considers changes to Senate Bill 390, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition warns that the state...
We asked AI how its own data centers could pollute West Virginia. Here’s what it had to say
(The following article was generated partly by ChatGPT in response to a prompt about how data centers pollute. As ChatGPT is powered by data...
Inaugural W.Va. Outdoor Economy Summit to unite leaders around $2.1 billion growth
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s outdoors are more than a scenic backdrop. They’re a strategic economic asset. That message will take...
West Virginia State Parks Foundation launches online merchandise store
HURRICANE, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Parks Foundation has launched an official online merchandise store, offering supporters a new way to...
West Virginia Travel Safety: What it means for residents and visitors in 2026
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Travel safety in West Virginia is shaped less by headline-grabbing crime and more by geography, weather, and the realities of...
Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in West Virginia?
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in what is now West Virginia just days after the first land battle of the...
Study finds WVU and its health system account for 17% of West Virginia’s economy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University and the WVU Health System together generate $14.3 billion in annual economic impact in West Virginia,...