Jefferson Rock facts for kids
Jefferson Rock is a famous rock formation in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It's part of the Appalachian Trail, a very long hiking path. This special spot has large pieces of shale rock stacked on top of each other. From here, you can see the Shenandoah River just before it joins the Potomac River.
Why is it Called Jefferson Rock?
The rock is named after Thomas Jefferson, who was a very important person in American history. He later became the third President of the United States. He visited this spot a long time ago, though we don't know the exact date. He was writing a book called Notes on the State of Virginia.
Jefferson was amazed by the view from the rock. He wrote about how powerful and beautiful the scene was. He described the two rivers, the Shenandoah and the Potomac, rushing together. He felt like the mountains had been torn apart to let the rivers pass through. He also noticed the calm, distant horizon, which he found very peaceful.
He thought this view was so incredible that it was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." This means he believed people should travel all the way from Europe just to see it!
How the Rock Changed
The very top part of Jefferson Rock used to sit on a natural stone base. This base was so narrow that you could actually make the rock sway if you pushed it gently.
Over time, the weather wore down this natural base. Also, many tourists and curious visitors would push the rock, which made it even weaker. Because the base became "very unsafe," four stone pillars were added. These pillars were placed under each corner of the top rock slab. This happened sometime between 1855 and 1860. The pillars helped to make the rock stable and safe for visitors to enjoy.
Gallery
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Jefferson Rock, July 2009
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This is a panoramic view of Jefferson Rock (right foreground) and the surrounding river valley. The lower town of Harper's Ferry and the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers appears on the left. The church steeple (also left) belongs to St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.
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A photograph taken directly below the Jefferson Rock taken in August 2017
Images for kids
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Postcard view from c. 1930–1945
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