The "contraband" of formerly enslaved people in Harpers Ferry during the Civil War led in part to the founding of Storer College in 1867. As one of the first integrated schools in the country, it played a significant role in educating formerly enslaved people. Over the years, more than 7,000 students attended the college.

In its early days, the curriculum focused on the basics—religion, reading, and math. As the college grew, the subjects expanded to include industrial training and domestic arts. Storer College maintained high academic standards, preparing its students for successful futures. Graduates went on to have successful careers in fields such as medicine, law, ministry, pharmacy, and more, leaving a lasting legacy of education and service. It closed in 1955, a year after the Supreme Court ordered public schools to be integrated.