Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

The Niagara Movement

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 21, 2021

1. The Niagara Movement Marker

Inscription. Here, on August 15-19, 1906, on the Storer College campus, the Niagara Movement held their first open and public meeting on American soil. Organized by W.E.B. Du Bois and others a year earlier in Erie Beach, Ontario, Canada, the Niagara Movement became the cornerstone of modern civil rights movement and was the forerunner of the NAACP.

Erected 2006 by Star Lodge No 1 F&AM and Jefferson Co. Black History Pres. SOC.; West Virginia Division of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 39° 19.474′ N, 77° 44.425′ W. Marker is in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. It is on Fillmore Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harpers Ferry WV 25425, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in the Eastern Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Foundations of Freedom (a few steps from this marker); Storer College Veterans Memorial Gate (a few steps from this marker); Virginia Lodge No. 1 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named A Land Divided

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); That was the happiest time of my life. (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Second Meeting of the Niagara Movement (within shouting distance of this marker); The Black Americans (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harpers Ferry.

Other markers no longer nearby. Church and School (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); A Land Divided (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Camp Hill during the Civil War (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Storer College 1867-1955 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Niagara Movement at Storer College (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . The Niagara Movement

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 21, 2021

2. The Niagara Movement Marker

. Photos of the movement and the resolutions passed at Harpers Ferry. (Submitted on October 13, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 22, 2007

3. Camp Hill

While some of the original buildings from Storer College have passed with time, several remain that date to the time of the Niagara Movement meeting in 1909. Camp Hill, used during the Civil War as a marshaling area by both Federals and Confederates. The open field was transferred from the government to the college in 1869 along with several old Harpers Ferry armory buildings.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,880 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on May 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on October 13, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.