Jefferson County’s Early History
Before Jefferson County existed, people were drawn to its natural landscape. This exhibit covers everything from Native American settlement and European colonization to the influence of the Washington family, the American Revolution, and the Early Republic era. Some of the many featured artifacts include the barrel of a Sheetz Rifle, a letter written by George Washington after the death of his brother, Charles, and a stove plate from the Keeptryst Furnace.
Stone metate and mano found outside of Jefferson County, Archaic period
John Brown Raid
Through artifacts, documents, and photographs, this exhibit provides details on abolitionist John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, the first step in his campaign to end slavery in the South. However, in less than two days, his raid was over. He and six of his men were captured and taken to Charles Town, the county seat, where they were jailed, tried, and sentenced to hang after being convicted of murder, treason, and conspiracy to incite a slave insurrection.
On display are the wagon that carried Brown to his hanging, pikes intended for freed people unable to use guns, documents collected from Brown at the end of the raid, and items from both the Jefferson County Jail where he was held prisoner and the courthouse where he was tried.
Civil War
The museum has a large collection of objects and archives related to the Civil War. Among the items on exhibit are small arms, ammunition, uniforms, and a rare Second National Confederate flag. Throughout the war, most of the White population in the county was sympathetic to the pro-slavery South. In 1863, Jefferson County became part of the new state of West Virginia.
Harriet Lane Johnston
This exhibit focuses on Harriet Lane Johnston—philanthropist and niece of James Buchanan and his First Lady while he was president. From her childhood through her adult years, she maintained close ties to Jefferson County. She had many cousins here, descendants of her father’s brothers who had settled in the county, and she also went to school here for a short time.
Items on display include her personal belongings, images, documents, and Buchanan White House china.
Harriet Lane, undated
The Founding of Storer College
Through artifacts and photographs of students and faculty, this display details the founding of Storer College in 1867, the first West Virginia college open to African Americans.
During its 88-year history, the college educated thousands of Black students, many of them from Jefferson County.
Storer College postcards, undated
Green-Copeland American Legion Post 63
This exhibit provides a short history of Green-Copeland Post 63, an American Legion post created by 15 African American veterans of World War I in Charles Town in 1929. At the time, White veterans barred African Americans from their Whites-only post. The new post was named to honor Shields Green and John A. Copeland, Jr., two African Americans who joined John Brown in his attempt to incite a rebellion against slavery by capturing the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry in 1859.
On display are the post’s flag and charter, as well as photographs of five of the fifteen founders.
The flag and charter were on loan to the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture as part of their exhibition, “We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I,” from December 13, 2019 to September 6, 2020.
Green-Copeland American Legion Post 63 flag, ca. 1929
Everyday Life and Commerce
Several displays feature an array of clothing and other textiles, toys, household items, advertising memorabilia, business products, and photographs relating to the lives of people in Jefferson County in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Whiskey and beer bottles, undated