African American history hike planned on National Trails Day

Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), in partnership with the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the NAACP Jefferson County West Virginia Branch, will host the third annual African American History Hike in celebration of National Trails Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7.

The one-mile guided hike takes participants back in time as they learn about the rich African American history in Harpers Ferry along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This event is free and open to the public.

The guided hike will begin at the ATC’s Visitor Center at 799 Washington St. and will be led by National Park Service rangers and historians.

Participants will learn about Storer College, one of the nation’s first institutions of higher learning open to African Americans.

They will also learn about the Niagara Movement, considered to be the cornerstone of the modern civil rights era, and John Brown’s Raid, an attempt by abolitionist John Brown to start an armed revolt with the intention of ending slavery.

Attendees will also be given the rare opportunity to view the inside the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church and the Lockwood House, where the college’s first classes took place.

From the Lockwood House, the hike will follow the A.T. past Jefferson Rock and down into Lower Town. Once in Lower Town, lunch will be served before the event concludes at 2 p.m. Participants may then use the provided shuttle service to return to their parked cars.

To register: Visit http://www.appalachiantrail.org/events

For more information email Anne Baker at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit http://www.appalachiantrail.org/events