Harpers Ferry's Mather Training Center to End Historic Training Programs
Stephen T. Mather Training Center set to close training programs
West Virginia Press Association | Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The National Park Service is set to close its training programs at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center in Harpers Ferry, marking the end of over six decades of in-person training for new rangers and cultural resource specialists. Opened in 1964 on the site of the former Storer College, the center has been pivotal in providing education in interpretive science, administrative skills, and cultural resource management, accommodating up to 700 new employees annually. Alongside the Horace P. Albright Training Center in Grand Canyon National Park, the closure stems from a consolidation effort by the Department of the Interior, signaling a significant change for training initiatives in the area, as reported by the West Virginia Press Association.
