Millions of Americans visit well-known places outside and within the U.S., but many great places within the continental USA are left abandoned. A lot of it is because locals just prefer to keep those places to themselves so they neglect advertising them hoping to keep visitors away. But, I intend to spoil it for them and spill out their secrets.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harper’s Ferry, WV
The splendor of the Appalachian mountain will overwhelm you with its natural beauty. Watch the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers flow together and experience the fishes you see through the crystal clear water as they try to escape your fishhook. This is where NBC late-night show host David Letterman said that he wished he where when he realized what a man has to go through when his wife discovered he had had too many immature adventures. Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park will take you to a higher place and you won’t be scolded.
There is significant national history in Harpers Ferry. In 1944, it was designated a national historic area. Harpers Ferry is where the action of Abolitionist John Brown and nineteen others raided US arsenal and Armor and barricaded inside a fire station; that action, brought national attention to the emotional division of slavery. This was the year of 1859, when a then-Colonel Robert E. Lee was dispatched from Washington DC to handle John brown’s raid. The rest is civil war history.
The fire station from which Brown led his raid is still at Harpers Ferry, but not after it had been moved several times and at one point, it was moved all the way to the windy city of Chicago. Harper’s Ferry is not far from Washington DC and Northern Virginia and western Maryland areas. Do visit and experience history and nature in one place.
Confederate Memorial Park
Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, MD.
Point Lookout State Park lies at the southern tip of the Maryland Peninsula. In a sharp right from the park lays the Confederate Memorial Park. This is one spot that not too many people want to talk about. If it has to do with slavery, confederate flag or confederate army, it’s politically incorrect to mention it. It’s the sore spot but, if you understand history and know that everyone has one, this is just another part of American history.
During the Civil War it was the home of one of the largest prisons for Confederate POWs. Of the more than 52,000 prisoners incarcerated here, it is reported the prison was deplorable and POWs were mistreated. Over 14,000 died.
Assateague Island Lighthouse.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Assateague Island National Seashore
This is one splendid spot for the state of Maryland to showcase. The locals keep it to themselves, selfish I think, but it’s so beautiful I can understand why they want to publicize it much. Assateague National Wildlife Refuge is a must if only for the vista.
While you’re there, you just have to visit the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of a lifetime. I just don’t see why I have to pay to get into the park then have to pay so much to visit the lighthouse. I’m beginning to believe in some sort of conspiracy theory that it is because the locals want to discourage outsiders from sharing their treasured vista from the lighthouse.
Take a walk in the park it will do you some good. Walk along the sand of the Chesapeake beach and pick up some sea shelves. While you there, stop by National Aeronautics and Space A (NASA). Do visit and see the short film on what is to come in space exploration. Geeks will love NASA, the kids will too and so will you when you see Neil Armstrong’s suit and close up photos of the moon. Unexpected pleasure.
Bishop Hills Colony
