Packhouse Ford, historic crossing point of the Potomac River
Packhouse Ford is a historic river crossing over the Potomac located about a mile east of Shepherdstown in Washington County. The site displays worn paths and stones that mark centuries of foot traffic and wagon wheels crossing from one riverbank to the other.
Native Americans first used this crossing as a travel route, later developed by colonial settlers and traders into a busy passage point. During the American Civil War, soldiers moved across the ford during military campaigns, particularly near the Battle of Antietam, and the site received official recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Packhouse Ford served as a vital crossing point where Native Americans, settlers, and traders regularly met to exchange goods and move across the river. The site reflects how this ford became a gathering place that connected different communities and shaped daily life in the area.
A marker on the West Virginia side indicates the historic crossing at the junction of River Road and Trough Road. The area remains quiet and natural, making it suitable for a straightforward walk along the riverbank to experience the site and its surroundings firsthand.
The site is also known by alternate names such as Blackford's Ford and Boteler's Ford, reflecting the different groups who used it throughout history. These alternative names reveal layers of the crossing's story tied to specific families and travelers who passed through.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
