Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Hungry Mother State Park

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 28, 2011

1. Hungry Mother State Park Marker

Inscription. In 1933 local residents assisted in the creation and donated 2,000 acres of land to Virginia for the establishment of a state park in Smyth County along Hungry Mother Creek. The unusual name comes from the legend of a nearby Indian settler conflict that resulted in Molly Marley and her child being captured. They later escaped but Marley died. When a search party found the toddler who could only utter the words “Hungry Mother.” The National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps, in conjunction with the Virginia Conservation Commission, developed the park as a New Deal project. It opened on 15 June 1936 and was one of the first six state parks established in Virginia.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-33.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1936.

Location. 36° 53.034′ N, 81° 31.593′ W. Marker is in Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. It

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is at the intersection of B. F. Buchanan Highway (Virginia Route 16) and East Hungry Mother Drive ( Route 348), on the right when traveling north on B. F. Buchanan Highway. It is at the main entrance to the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marion VA 24354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Col. Arthur Campbell (approx. 3.1 miles away); Site of Colonial Home (approx. 3.1 miles away); Battle of Marion (approx. 3.2 miles away); Sherwood Anderson (approx. 3.2 miles away); Royal Oak Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Annabel Morris Buchanan (approx. 3½ miles away); Governor David Campbell (approx. 3½ miles away); Nolan Ryan and the Marion Mets (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Other markers no longer nearby. Engagement at Marion (was approx. 3.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Battle of Marion (was approx. 3.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Col. William Elisha Peters (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Virginia State Parks — Hungry Mother. “Legend has it that when the Native Americans destroyed several settlements on the New River south of the park, Molly Marley and her small

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 28, 2011

2. Hungry Mother State Park Marker

The sandy beach on the man-made lake can be seen in the distance on the left.

child were among the survivors taken to the raiders’ base north of the park. They eventually escaped, wandering through the wilderness eating berries. Molly finally collapsed, and her child wandered down a creek until the child found help. The only words the child could utter were ‘Hungry Mother.’ The search party arrived at the foot of the mountain where Molly collapsed to find the child’s mother dead. Today that mountain is Molly’s Knob, and the stream is Hungry Mother Creek.” (Submitted on July 24, 2011.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,665 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 24, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

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