The New River Gorge Bridge was dedicated in Fayette County before a crowd of 30,000 on this day in 1977. Throughout history, transportation across the rugged gorge has been a challenge. Its 1,700-foot arch made it the longest single-span arch bridge in the world. And, at 876 feet above the New River, it was the highest automobile bridge in the world. Today, it is still the longest steel span in the Western Hemisphere and the third highest in the United States.
Tag: This Week in West Virginia History
October 16, 1859: John Brown Captures U.S. Armory
John Brown, and a band of anti-slavery men, captured the U.S. armory at Harpers Ferry on the night of October 16, 1859. Earlier in the year, Brown had settled into a western Maryland farmhouse, where he trained his 18-man army in military tactics. His goal was to seize weapons from the national armory at Harpers Ferry and arm slaves, who would then overthrow their masters.