This marker stands on Duke Street just over the bridge from Maryland into West Virginia and points…read moreout the history of Jefferson County. The marker reads, "Formed in 1801 from Berkeley. Named for Thomas Jefferson. Home of Generals Gates, Darke, and Charles Lee. Here four companies of Washington's men organized. Shepherdstown was strongly urged as the seat of the National Capitol." It's not all that far fetched. There was a time that West Virginia was Virginia and it's on the border with Maryland. Much the way that Washington DC is on the border between the two states. Jefferson County is located in the Shenandoah Valley in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and is the easternmost county of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Jefferson County was established on October 26, 1801 from Berkeley County because the citizens of southeastern Berkeley county felt they had to travel too far to the county seat of Martinsburg. Charles Washington, the founder of Charles Town and brother to George Washington petitioned for a new county to be formed. It was named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States. [Review 15605 overall - 57 in West Virginia - 1109 of 2021.]

Quite a view! It is really neat to see this massive road cut. There is an access behind the…read moreMaryland Welcome Center, and there is also a pedestrian bridge that connects the rest stop on the other side of the highway to this access. Climbing up the steps gets you to the view. Looking at the opened walls is very interesting since you can see the various layers going back through time. We somehow managed to end up here at great timing for the sun coming through the hill too, which was an added interesting feature. There is also signage available that provides more details about the National Road and Sideling Hill.

I lived in Baltimore Md as a child, my grandparents had a cabin in West Virginia. Four or five…read moretimes a year we would drive out I83, through the "V in the mountain" on the way to our vacation spot deep in the woods! Sideling Hill became our halfway stop, many times I used the bathrooms there, and ate many sandwiches made by my grandmother in the parking lot! All the employees were always so nice and seemed super informative... Always kept clean! Bathrooms included! As for the hill, Beautiful is an understatement for this very unnatural yet breathtaking view of a mountain, and each season offers another opportunity to see this impressive feat of mankind. There's even a walkway bridge that spans the highway with interesting views of its own! If you travel out western md and happen through Sideling hill, take fifteen minutes and stop in! I'm not sure if it's still there but they had a stuffed black bear standing guard inside. Check it out, definitely a beautiful view that won't disappoint.

We have driven by this battlefield dozens of times and finally decided to stop and visit…read more Easy parking, main ealjway was realtively even, and numerous historic markers to read about the civil war era battles in the area. There is a wooded path too. Lovely mountain views Trash free park.....take out Whatever you bring in

A great place to start your tour of Harpers Ferry and its history…read moreBolivar Heights sits just above Harpers Ferry and, seems like a great place to start a tour of the entire area. We got a guided tour and our tour guide started here because from here you can see the hills that represent "the hole" the place where the 2 rivers, the Potomac and the Shenandoah connect. It gives you a wide open look at the town, the rivers, and the surrounding ridgelines. It's a quiet, grassy ridge with a few cannon placements and clear informational signs. It's easy to understand why this high ground mattered during the Civil War.I like this stop because it was simple and stress-free. There is a small parking area, short mostly-level paths, and lots of room to wander without crowds. The signs along the path do a nice job of explaining the fighting here and how it connects to the larger Harpers Ferry story. The cannons are in good shape but always be careful not to stick your hand inside one as small creatures like to use them also. If you want a picture with a cannon closeup or in the background then this is a good place for you. Overall, Bolivar Heights battlefield is an easy, worthwhile add to a Harpers Ferry visit. If you're driving the park's battle sites, put this one near the top of the list and enjoy the view.

We used this and the adjacent park on the other side of the canal as our launch point for two rides…read more29SEP (went south out & back 10 miles) and 30 SEP went north out & back 24 miles). Spacious parking area, not paved or marked spots but I would guess 30 cars or so would fit comfortably? The days we were there we only saw about 10-15. The trail itself is well packed dirt/gravel and even with a few wet areas along the way it is easy for most bikes, other than a pure road bike.

Tony and I stopped at C&O Canal Lock 44 & Lockhouse. It's free to enjoy and a lovely area to Enjoy…read morefor free. Plenty of parking. There is an old Lockhouse, plenty of signage about history and TURTLES...We saw about 20 plus turtles sunning themselves. Great place for hiking, biking and exploring. Close easy access to the Potomac River for tubing and swimming. Highly Recommend and definitely would go back when in area.

This marker is located on Washington Street near the center of the town of Berkeley Springs and in…read morefront of the Berkeley Springs State Park. The marker reads, "Centennial Time Capsule. This official West Virginia Centennial Time Capsule was dedicated October 12, 1963 as Morgan County's contribution to the State's Centennial celebration. It contains historical documents, personal messages to be distributed in 2063." There is street parking adjacent. [Review 15545 overall, 1049 of 2021, number 44 in West Virginia.]

At he bottom of the hill and just before the Potomac River bridge, this sign points out some Civil…read moreWar history that happened here. The marker reads, "From this point, "Stonewall" Jackson shelled Hancock, Md., Jan. 5, 1862. After destroying supplies, the B&O Railway track and the bridge over the Great Cacapon, Jackson marched his army of 8,500 men to Romney and captured it, January 14." Online, there is more information. "The Battle of Hancock was fought during the confederate Romney Expedition of the American Civil War on January 5 and 6, 1862, near Hancock, Maryland. Commanding his own Valley District and Brigadier General William W. Loring's force known as the Confederate Army of the Northwest, Major General Stonewall Jackson of the Confederate States Army began moving against Union Army forces in the Shenandoah Valley area on January 1. After light fighting near Bath, Virginia, Jackson's men reached the vicinity of Hancock late on January 4 and briefly fired on the town with artillery. Union Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander refused a Confederate request to surrender on January 5, and that day and the next saw exchanges of artillery fire between the two sides. The Confederates burned a bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on January 5, but withdrew on the 7th. Jackson later moved against Romney, Virginia, and occupied the town on January 15 after Union soldiers abandoned it. Romney was ordered abandoned on January 30 by the Confederate States Secretary of War after Loring complained about Jackson's orders." [Review 15549 overall, 1053 of 2021, number 47 in West Virginia.]

This marker is located just west of the Conococheague Creek bridge and points out the history of…read morethis road that predates the Civil War. It has the same text on both sides and reads, "The Bank Road. (The Cumberland Turnpike Road). The portion of this highway from the west end of the Conococheague bridge to Cumberland (40 miles) was built between 1816 and 1821. The Banks of Maryland financed it by purchase of the stock." The Department of Transportation has an excellent look at the history of the road at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/bankroad.cfm that is worth a read. It's interesting to think about how things used to be before the superhighways were built with asphalt and concrete. We take it for granted that we can zip along at 70 miles an hour uninterrupted. [Review 15132 overall, 634 of 2021, number 607 in Maryland.]

Located at the bottom of the hill between Berkeley Springs WV and Hancock MD at the foot of the…read morePotomac River bridge. This marker points out the border between the two states with some factual information about each. The marker has the WV seal on both sides. It reads, "Maryland. Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of Charles I, who gave a royal charter to Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, 1632. First settled at Saint Mary's City in 1634. It is one of the thirteen original colonies." And on the other side, "West Virginia. Morgan County. 'The Mountain State'--western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. Settled by the Germans and Scotch-Irish. It became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763." There is nowhere to stop on this side of the road. [Review 15553 overall - 48 in West Virginia - 1057 of 2021.]