Be nice if they taught it in US schools but, they stopped doing that in the late 70's. (right around the time the Dept. Of Education was formed by Jimmy Carter) Now you see college students that have no idea who George Washington was, or Thomas Jefferson either, they never heard of the civil war and think we fought WWIII back in 1970. (I am not kidding, watch all the videos on quizzing college students on American history) "Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it"-George Santayana.
I’m a crazy history buff also and at 76 I’m pretty sure I’m old enough to appreciate it all. Thank you for this video because I definitely needed it. 👵🏻
I have lived in Harpers Ferry (no apostrophe 😉) for almost 16 years now. Just on the other side of Bolivar Heights and the battlefield from where you were. Left living outside DC for beautiful scenery and serenity that West Virginia offers. Colonial times, Revolutionary War, Appalachian history, Civil War, a country music legend and more all right here. One thing I have learned about living here is that I find out something new history wise or a little known fact about the area almost weekly. Almost like a “Historical Easter Egg”, lol. It makes this place all that more intriguing and alluring. Of course, every place is like that. We just need to start scratching the surface and look underneath the layers. Thank you for highlighting wonderful, almost heaven, West Virginia.
I live not 20 minutes from Harper's Ferry. I have appreciated every square inch of the old streets and lanes. You, sir, have given me a new appreciation of my own back yard. Thank you.
Oh my gosh... This honestly made me tear up. We live in Berkeley County (right next to Jefferson County) and it's so heartwarming to see someone paint WV in such a beautiful light.
It's awesome to see David's awe and respect for this country's history/ideals. I just wish more Americans didn't take for granted what so many have fought to secure. We would be lucky to have more people like you join our Union.
What a treat! I been out west for nearly 40 years and there isn't a season that goes by that I don't miss my Appalachian roots. The seasnons, the history, the people and the culture, I miss it all. Thank you for sharing.
You were just a stone's throw away from Antietam battlefield. The South's first foray to invade the North. They attacked and drove the Union out of Harpers Ferry then used it to ensure they had an open route to the South. It is the single bloodiest day in American history with about 23,000 killed and wounded.
It’s only a matter of time, we’re gonna make an American of you yet, David. But for now, go David. Go back to your frozen native lands. Back to your family. And always carry the memory of the breakfast burrito with you.
David, I'm glad you had a chance to visit my back yard. It's interesting to see the battle grounds, but you have to remember, there were two armies facing off. Things like higher ground were important. As well as visibility when they were firing black powder rifles. Smoke! It was very hard to see. There was little cover. Often times the soldiers weren't killed immediately, but bled out from their wounds. So much medicine was learned from the doctors working on the soldiers. It was an amazing and terrible time. Other than the civil war, Harpers Ferry is an amazing place! It's fortunate you were here just when the trees were starting to turn. I'm sure your drive was just beautiful! It's too bad you weren't able to bring the family. But 700 klicks is a long drive! Going for a couple days just isn't worth it. Hopefully things will calm down and you'll be able to bring the family next time. Really glad you had a chance to meet Robert. It was a great show on Tim's channel. Too bad the behind the scenes show is now behind the pay wall. Tim's paywall is kind of expensive! Thanks for the video!
Wonderfully lush atmosphere there. The aged stone buildings have that cozy, moss-covered patina, giving an intensely romantic "curb-appeal" usually reserved for postcards.
I've only been through that area once, around 1983-4. Traveling through Virginia from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, Cheatam Annex to be specific, for USNR training in cargo handling. All the markers from this battle and that, I could FEEL the history bubbling out of the ground. I've been to many historic sights, but the only places I could feel it more palpable was anchored off of several South Pacific islands on a WesPac cruise...Wake, Midway, Tinian, Philippines. In Singapore, the first several blocks off the waterfront were beautiful new high-rises, but go a little further in, and there were the remains of the buildings bombed out from WW2. The residents had cleaned them up and turned the bombed out portions/rooms into patios and balconies/decks. I also find myself extremely uncomfortable every time I set foot on Fort Sill Oklahoma. Nothing I can explain, other than maybe some mental stuff knowing the history, but I feel it none the less.
I live another hour northwest from Harpers Ferry. I spend my workday in the DC area but the beauty of the mountains and calmer life they bring is why my commute is so long. Leaving the traffic and stacks of townhomes on top of each other is a blessing daily when I finally hit the twists of mountain roads. Hope the locals treated you well and you enjoyed your visit.
I'd posted elsewhere on one of David's videos on being at Harpers Ferry about my visit there in 2018. The foot bridge was part of a small section of the Appalachian Trail that I took a few days to hike. A longish stretch of trail between the river and the remnants of an old canal was a lovely bit of walking. Wish I'd had some time to explore the town but the train timetable from DC didn't leave much spare to try and get to that first campsite. Caught in a huge storm late in the day. Happy times.
It’s so true that traveling with kids can really suck lol. They think all the stuff you want to see is boring because of course as kids all they want to do is play. We did 4 days straight of driving from Los Angeles to our new home in rural Tennessee with our toddler. At the end, he started crying about how miserable he was. Thankfully, we were literally only 15 minutes away from our new home. I’m hoping that any future road trips will be much better in comparison so he will be happy with stopping at “boring” stops haha.
I grew up in Harpers Ferry in the 1960s, before it was taken completely over by tourism. The main reason it was fought over was the fact that the largest and most modern arsenal in the US was located there. Stonewall Jackson ultimately dismantled much of it and it was moved to the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia and was used to produce the most prolific of the Confederacy's rifles. It also was a primary railroad transit point....and at the time furthest downstream railroad crossing of the Potomac and as such, far more important to mid-Atlantic logistics than it is today.
I love when you geek out. Colonial history has always intrigued me because of my heritage. But I won't likely get the chance to go there. It pleases me to have one of my favorite Canadians enjoy himself appreciating Harpers Ferry & sharing it with us. Carry on!
This is So Great!! So true!! I NEVER liked/appreciated history until I was much older! Thanks Viva! I’ve never been there, always wanted to! Fantastic!!
My father was stationed in Virginia Beach for 7-8 years and got to visit many historic places. Williamsburg, James Town, and even swam in the James River. We also went into the Blue Ridge Mountains but never made it to Harpers Ferry. Maybe one day. Glad it was a great trip for you.
Glad you enjoyed the area, Viva. It's also an amazing place for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing in the summer. Surprised you didn't mention the old advertisement that you can still see painted on the rock face.
It brings me much joy to see you having so much joy! I vote for Maid Marion to view the breakfast burrito photo and recreate it for another episode of Viva Family. Though I've never been to Harpers Ferry, I did go to Valley Forge as a child of about 6. My father helped me understand the significance of it. Also, I went to Boston as a fourth grader with my parents and while the historic things were grand, I was most excited to be in the Boston Common where Make Way for Ducklings was set.
I had the pleasure of visiting there a few times when I lived in MD. The building at 6:09 is where John Brown had his standoff and ultimately was killed- sparking the Civil War. The stone steps carved up the hill are a beautiful hike in the town up to the historic St Peter’s church, and a little further on is Jefferson Rock. Harpers Ferry is described as being at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers- I didn’t know what a confluence was until I went there. Thanks for this video, it sparked joyful memories for me!
Thank you for sharing this experience! My father's family is from the other side of West Virginia, but the beauty is there, too. I had a big smile for the who video.
Viva, it is so enjoyable watching you see the sights of America. Next time bring your wife...and then kids when they are old enough. It makes me want to watch you tour Canada historical sites. I've only been to Canada once and it was only on a short pass through. Enjoy your stay...and safe travels.
Spectacular footage! Thanks for sharing. After all the crap and riots we see on the main stream media it's refreshing to see that there is still is a place where serenity and peace reins supreme.
Welcome to West " By God " Virginia . Don't be afraid of the vines in the trees . The wild grapevines are fun to swing on ...until they break and you fall 20 feet to the ground. Grew up in the very bottom of the state and i played with a bow and arrow when i was 5 years old except the bow was bigger than i was , also was 5 yp when i shot my first gun. They start us young in the mountains.
He had a little hiccup because of it at the border. They saw part of it sticking out and asked him if it was a crossbow so he showed them what it was. 😂
What fun!! going back and looking at some of your older traveling videos after just discovering you and your daughter on your Austin to NM trip. I LOVE the Harpers Ferry area.. been there numerous times, but not in last 5 or so years.. such an amazing, yes and oh, so historical place.. and those three states meeting.. It's less than 2 hrs from Baltimore.. a great day trip.
History always amazes me! I keep a History page on instagram of my local region in Northern NY. You probably drove right by my town coming to and from the US. I'm about 30 min from the Canadian border. You should visit downtown Watertown, NY sometime! It was established in 1800 and looks much different in town than from the highway. There is also a park designed by the nephew who's Uncle designed Central Park in NYC.
Viva, in my family I was brought up to do at least one historical thing on every trip. Now that I have my own family I have adopted the same tradition.
By the by, my dad's secret to getting us to appreciate historical sites was to read us novels based on those time periods that mentioned those sites before visiting them. Sometimes biographies as well. I remember visiting Valley Forge and standing on a hill overlooking the valley and river and realized that it was Turtle Village (Leni Lenape) that I had just been reading about for a school report. It is beyond incredible to stand in a place that is the setting of a book you enjoyed.
My favourite CW sites; Gettysburg, both the sprawling battlefield site and the federal museum with its amazing gun collection, and glass dioramas of scenes filled with original objects recovered from the battlefield at the time. Also the Andersonville prison camp site and POW museum, sw of Macon Georgia, which I got to visit on a business trip. I read somewhere that there were about 5000 Canadians that crossed the border and joined the Union Army (there are also between 5,000 and 10,000 Canadian Vietnam vets for that matter - no one knows the precise number).
Outstanding! Sadly you have more interest in our history than most Americans. EDIT:: I get chills when I visit sites like this. I hope you can one day, if you haven't, visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It was just.... awe inspiring.
@@andyfletcher3561 Not crazy. That's absolutely true. In 1976, my family and I went on the historic American Bicentennial tour of these particular eastern states. Not only could I feel the history, but in some areas, one could "smell" it. Even today, I get the same rush when I travel to certain regions in Europe. It can actually be overwhelming.
@@c3cubed I guess, like many things, you just have to be receptive too it. I would imagine I would feel it in Europe as well. I've felt it other places, like Edwards AFB, just not to the same degree. The SP islands and Virginia, it was like hands reaching up from the earth and grabbing me...Kind of...But except for Fort Sill, it was uplifting. That's the only place that's made feel sketchy.
@@andyfletcher3561 I imagine it may be possessing a fierce imagination, in collision with a 'spirituality' of sorts. Nothing religious per se, but certainly being in-tune with the surrounding elements and atmosphere. If you ever go to the old city of Paris and walk the city streets, the architecture and monuments force an absolute time-warp of history. Much of the entire city has been preserved at that final moment in time just prior to 'la Revolution'. Other areas are embedded with visages of 'la Belle Epoque', and yet certain points trigger images seen during the Nazi occupation during WWII. History is well-preserved there, as it was untouched by air raids; very few significant European cities escaped the bombs and had to rebuild.
@@c3cubed I also saw Philadelphia in 1976 - I even slipped my little hand under the rope and physically touched the Liberty Bell (without getting caught).
Harpers Ferry. Where you can drive through 3 states and over 2 rivers in 3 min. MD, V, WV. Don't forget Antietam just up the road. Then the C&O canal where you can walk miles and miles along the Potomac!
I'm so glad you appreciate a part of our nation's history. All I can see at this moment in history, however, is too many people living closely together and a future historic site for our great grandchildren to talk about.
Viva, this video was recommended to me today, January 10th, even though I watched it when you first uploaded. What I did notice is that you seemed happy! I'm hoping that you convince the other members of your family (including required extended family!) and move to somewhere like WV, here in the U.S.
