Draft General Management PLan/ Environmental Impact Statement (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; August 2008)Taken from Summary page iii. Harpers Ferry National Monument was authorized by an act of Congress on June 30, 1944, and became Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on May 29, 1963 (Public Law 78 386). The last general management plan for the national historical park was completed in 1980. Much has changed sine 1980visitor use patterns and types of use have changed, people want to bring new recreational activities to the national historical park, and