Natural Bridge was formed when a cavern collapsed and left the span that stands today. In 1774, just before the American Revolution and writing of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land, including the Natural Bridge, from King George III of England for 20 shillings. In 1998, Natural Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark.
If you ask me (and nobody has yet), this should be a Virginia State Park or run by the National Park Service. With all the other things going on at this site (a wax museum, a toy museum, a gift shop), it gives it the feel of being a tourist trap, rather than an historic landmark. The bridge is quite beautiful, and I don’t think it should be privately owned.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
NATURAL BRIDGE
In 1750, legend holds that young George Washington surveyed the Natural Bridge site for Lord Fairfax. Landmarks remain of the work and on the wall of the bridge where he carved his initials.
Georgie's initials (supposedly). If I owned this bridge (and I don't!) I wouldn't have
marred the beauty of the rock by painting a box around Georgie's initials!!
A rock Buddha
The trail and paths around the Natural Bridge are beautiful.
It's a nice place just to walk around. You follow a stream
all the way to the end where there is a waterfall.
I have never seen a sky this blue!
Lace Waterfall
Monacan Village
I don't think this stuff is original! The mirror
looks like it's from K-Mart.
looks like it's from K-Mart.
