MOC: John Brown's Fort - Harpers Ferry, VA

[TJJohn12]

John Brown's Fort -

Flickr

I've been picking away at this model for a couple months now. The Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia was made up of 22 buildings in 1859 when John Brown attacked the factory. But by 1864, the Armory was largely empty shells, collapsed buildings and jury-rigged warehouses. But John Brown's Fort remained much as it did half a decade before.

In 1859, John Brown attacked the Federal Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. His aim was to capture the 100,000 weapons stored there and outfit an army of escaped slaves to carve out a free land in the slave state of Virginia.

Flickr

Brown and his 21-man army was hemmed in quickly, making a final stand inside the Armory's fire engine house. The building would forever sport the name of the man who tried to raise an army to destroy slavery. The Federal government dispatched troops and saw that Brown was executed for trying to arm former slaves in a war against slavery.

Flickr

In just 5 years, America underwent a revolution. The Federal government, the same one which condemned Brown, by 1863 was arming former slaves to march through the South in a war against slavery.

In 1864, the 19th USCT marched through Harpers Ferry. Brown's avenging black army had finally arrived in front of the fort which bore his name.

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This build was a real bear. The arches are all of the inverse sort thanks to a gap in the LEGO palette. Thanks to that and a few other oddities, a good deal of the model is SNOTed together. It's still a solid little beast. All told I'm very happy with how this model turned out. Eventually (by Brickfair VA 2014) this building will be getting a diorama of the contraband camp which was pitched in front of the Fort in 1864 as part of the LEGO Civil War Collaborative build project focused on the 150th anniversary of the final full year of the American Civil War.

Enjoy,

-John

Edited September 27, 2013 by TJJohn12

[Balthazar]

Very good, especially white part of the building. But where`s the door?

[Hey Joe]

Nice build of an interesting historical topic. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

[Churchill]

John, that's a fantastic build. It's nice to see the direct comparison shots. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[TJJohn12]

Thanks all! I appreciate the comments.

I'm hoping to get some "clean" shots in front of a white background in the next week or so. I'll add them in here when I do.

-John