Washington Heritage Trail
Charles Town, WV

Charles Town was laid out on 80 acres of land donated by Charles Washington, George Washington's brother, in 1786. Charles named all the streets in his namesake town after Washington family members and dedicated the four corners of Charles Town's two principle streets (George and Washington Streets) for public use, an edict which holds today. Today's Charles Town is a living collection of historic structures that harken to the town's two plus centuries of history. The 1837 Greek Revival Jefferson County Court House, located at the intersection of George and Washington Streets, is the architectural jewel of Charles Town and the site of John Brown's treason trial for his raid on the Harpers Ferry arsenal. The court house lies at the center of the Downtown Charles Town Historic District, a National Register Historic District that includes 204 structures built between the late 18th Century and early 20th Century. Zion Episcopal Church is the site of over 70 Washington family graves.