On Monday, ground was broken on a 900-square-foot expansion and renovation at the Harpers Ferry Visitors Center. The expansion will double the center’s space and is expected to be complete next spring.

The $750,000 being spent is well worth it. For many visitors to the state, it’s their first stop.

“First impressions are important,” said Annette Gavin, Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO, at a groundbreaking ceremony held Monday.

Indeed they are.

In addition to restrooms and offices, the expansion at the visitors center will include interactive exhibits highlighting attractions to the historic town and surrounding Jefferson County.

Though Harpers Ferry is only home to a few hundred residents, it attracts thousands of tourists each year. The visitor center itself sees about 35,000 tourists a year. Harpers Ferry is important to the state of West Virginia not only because of its historical significance — it was the site of John Brown’s raid on the Armory in 1859, and it played a significant role in the Civil War — but for its popular outdoor activities like whitewater rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters are also located in Harpers Ferry, and the Appalachian Trail passes right through town.

Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito attended Monday’s event and pointed out the importance of tourism to West Virginia’s economy.

“It is, to me, the key to our future success,” she said, adding that many aren’t aware of all the state offers.

“They know we have the history. They know we have beautiful rural areas, but they don’t know the richness of the tradition and the beauty of the people that live here until they actually come.”

Project like this will go a long way toward attracting visitors and boasting all the area has to offer.