Reenactors find shelter from the rain standing inside of John Brown's Fort at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. (Journal photos by Jillian E. Kesner)

Fact Box

Today's John Brown Anniversary Activities

At Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

9 11 a.m.Walk of the Descendants (Ranger Programs Sign)

This commemorative walk follows the footsteps of John Brown and his men during their raid on Harpers Ferry. Descendants of townspeople, militia, marines, raiders and John Brown are invited to participate with readings of their ancestor's involvement during the raid. A moment of silence and a carnation will be offered in memory of each ancestor.

10 a.m. 3 p.m. Living History Programs (Arsenal Square)

Throughout the day living history stations will host events and activities about John Brown's Raid.

10 a.m. 4 p.m. Book Signings (Author Tent)

Numerous authors will be available to sign their books.

10 a.m. 6 p.m. John Brown Creative Activities (Family & Youth Tent)

10 11 a.m. "The Final Assault" (Arsenal Square)

150th anniversary of U.S. Marine assault on the U. S. Armory Fire Engine House. U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company

10:30 11:15 a.m. "John Brown's Place in History" (Author Tent)

Noted John Brown scholars Dr. Evan Carton and Dr. Paul Finkelman discuss Brown and his place in history.

11 a.m. - noon "At All Times Ready" (John Brown Fort)

History of the U.S. Marine Corps at Harpers Ferry and Marine Band Concert. U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company

11 a.m. 1 p.m. In the Footsteps of John Brown (Ranger Programs Sign)

Join a park ranger for this special 150th anniversary hike. Discover that the raid actually covered several miles, more than 30 buildings and included hundreds of people. Two miles and two hours of walking.

11 a.m. noon John Brown Travelogue (John Brown Museum)

1 2 p.m. "John Brown's Body'' by Stephen Vincent Benet (Shenandoah Stage)

Commemorative readings from the Pulitzer Prize-winning work, featuring former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, special guest readers and music by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble

2 3 p.m. "At All Times Ready" (John Brown Fort)

History of the U.S. Marine Corps at Harpers Ferry and Marine Band Concert. U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company

2 2:30 p.m. Keynote Address (Shenandoah Stage)

The Honorable William T. Coleman, Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient

2:30 3:15 p.m. "John Brown and the Women in his Life" (Author Tent)

Dr. Peggy Russo, Penn State Mont Alto, discusses Brown and the women who shaped his life.

3 4:30 p.m. Procession and Wreath Laying at Engine House for USMC Pvt. Luke Quinn (John Brown Fort), featuring Lt. Gen. G.R. Christmas, USMC Ret., President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company

3:30 4:30 p.m. Music of Sword of the Spirit (Shenandoah Stage)

Songs and stories of John Brown by Greg Artzner andTerry Leonino

- From Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Web site at www.nps.gov/hafe

HARPERS FERRY- It was possible that those who visited Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Saturday could have been thinking they had been somehow transplanted into the 1850s.

With many strolling around Saturday in the attire worn during the period of John Brown's Raid, and the historic vibe that the lower town portion of Harpers Ferry emits, it would have been quite easy to slip into a sense of imagination and choreograph the events that took place exactly 150 years ago.

Then of course, the cellphone buzzes or vehicle horns from nearby U.S. 340 rudely interrupt your visual depiction and draws you back into reality.

However, with the amount of John Brown exhibits and lectures available to visitors, reality wasn't such a bad deal, either.

Countless numbers of people decided history was more important than staying warm and dry by attending the second day of programs commemorating the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the Harpers Ferry Armory.

A popular fixture during the day's proceedings was the U.S. Marine Band, which performed at Arsenal Square. Words like "fantastic" and "marvelous" were just some of the descriptors overheard concerning the band's performance.

Dennis Frye, chief historian of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, described the importance of the Marines to Harpers Ferry.

"The U.S. Marine Corps band is very special to Harpers Ferry's history," Frye said. "Marines think of Harpers Ferry as a (Marine) battlefield, you know, Marines fought here and died here, and were wounded here in the attack against John Brown. It was also a Marine victory, as they stopped John Brown. So its very appropriate to have the Marine Corps here to play in honor of those who preceded them and to remind us of the military heritage the Marines have here in Harpers Ferry."

The band performed in a tent that also featured Marine information, artifacts and history.

There were hands-on exhibits for kids in the family and youth tent, featuring a puppet show, a presentation by students from C.W. Shipley Elementary School, live music and an interesting feature called "Reporter on the Scene."

Kids who signed up were able to read a prepared script from a teleprompter in broadcast-news fashion, all while a professional film crew turned the footage into a newscast.

The production was then aired in the sign-up booth, for all to watch. There were multiple scripts, all of which dealt with events surrounding Brown's raid.

A tyke from Harpers Ferry, whose broadcast announced the death of Harpers Ferry Mayor Fontaine Beckham, who was killed during Brown's Raid, said it was "cool" to feel like she was there.

"I thought it was really fun because you felt like an actor," Ashley Pugh said after finishing five or so takes.

Kids could see what the life of a youngster was like in 1859 by learning how to make butter and how to milk a cow among other things.

Twelve different authors were in the park, signing books in one tent, and delivering lectures in another about things like Brown's family and his relationship with another famous abolitionist, Frederick Douglass.

Frye said the emotion and passion that presenters displayed made it even more worthwhile, despite the chilly and moist weather.

"I've heard some of our presenters, who we've had year after year here, give some of their very best presentations I've ever heard them give, because they are so into the spirit of the 150th anniversary," he said. "There's something that comes out of the soul as a result of doing this on the same date, time, and place."

It's only fitting that raw emotion dictate the exhibits and presentations about a man who became known to the country for his own raw emotion.

Martyr or maniac is another debate for another time, but judging by the packed shuttle buses and full sidewalks in Harpers Ferry Saturday, one thing cannot be questioned: John Brown left quite the legacy.

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Martinsburg Journal, Used by Permission