Approximate site of 40 mile post of 118 mile
turnpike authorized 1838 by Virginia legislature. Cap:
$42,600, ($16,000 state). Cost: $25,429.
Route: Pearisburg, Giles County to Peterstown & Red Sulphur; crossed New River at
Indian Creek to . . . — — Map (db m179175) HM
Before you is an excellent view of the upper gorge area of New River Gorge National River. This section of the gorge is broad and the river is wide, unlike the steep V-shaped canyon found downstream of Sandstone Falls. As the New River cut its way . . . — — Map (db m100024) HM
Forest Hill United Methodist Church, founded in 1835, served as temporary shelter in 1863 for 23rd Ohio Vol. Inf., including Col. R.B. Hayes and Major W. McKinley, later presidents of U.S. Preceding frame church building, 2nd on site, was one of the . . . — — Map (db m99128) HM
Confederate sharpshooter enlisted 9 May 1861, in Monroe Guards, later Co. D. 27th Va. Infantry, Stonewall Brigade. "The Bloody 27th” fought in every major Civil War battle in east, from First Manassas to Appomattox. Foster was personally decorated . . . — — Map (db m187321) HM WM
The nearby highway is part of route
traversing W. Va. from Lewisburg to
Point Pleasant memorialized by the
state to commemorate the march of
the American Colonial army of 1,200
men led by Andrew & Charles Lewis.
After a month's march this . . . — — Map (db m124116) HM
Throughout the park there are foundations of concrete and one of cut stone that have been used for railroad signals of various types. Unfortunately, over the years during different projects, many of them were destroyed, moved or buried. The best . . . — — Map (db m211903) HM
South on New River at Crump's Bottom, Fort Culbertson was built, 1774, at outbreak of Dunmore's War by Capt. James Robertson on order of William Preston, Lieutenant-Colonel of Fincastle County. This fort was garrisoned by troops. — — Map (db m76682) HM
The great tunnel of the C&O Railroad was started at Big Bendin1870 and completed three years later. It is more than a mile long, and now has a twin tunnel. Tradition makes this the scene of the steel drivers' ballad, "John Henry". — — Map (db m210998) HM
Named for its founder. Indian raids broke up early settlements in southern part of this county. First permanent settlements were those of James Graham at Lowell and of Robert Lilly on Little Bluestone from 1770 to 1772. — — Map (db m76684) HM
Babe Ruth’s first two major league home runs,
6 May and 2 June 1915, were hit off pitcher,
John Wauhop, 1884-1960, at the Polo Grounds
in NY. Wauhop, playing under name of Warhop
and "Chief,” played for Highlanders, who became
the NY Yankees, . . . — — Map (db m179179) HM
The historic village of Lilly was located at the
conference of the Little Bluestone and Bluestone
Rivers three miles northwest of this point. It
was settled by Robert and Fanny Lilly who
migrated here in the late 1700's from the Dublin-Pulaski . . . — — Map (db m165186) HM
The Lilly Truss Bridge was determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for its association with the creation of the Bluestone Dam and Bluestone Lake. It was built to provide a transportation link across the lake. The . . . — — Map (db m132561) HM
During the Civil War, Pack's Ferry
was a strategic river crossing for
Federal troops in the area. On the
morning of August 6, 1862, 900 men
and 2 artillery guns of Confederate
Col. G. C. Wharton's command fired
on 23rd Ohio soldiers . . . — — Map (db m132560) HM
On February 27, 1871, Summers County was formed from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, and Monroe counties. Summers County was named for George W. Summers, a prominent jurist and legislator from Virginia then West Virginia. Summers County was . . . — — Map (db m243866) HM
After Summers County was formed in 1871, the county needed a courthouse. The first being used as a courthouse was a Baptist Church located two miles north of the New River. The courthouse then moved to the second floor of Cameron Lewis Thompson . . . — — Map (db m243861) HM
Across Greenbrier River, on October 23, 1890, engineer George Washington Alley (b. July 10, 1860) was scalded to death. Engine No. 134, pulling Fast Flying Virginian from Cincinnati to Washington, hit a boulder on tracks. Lewis Withrow & Robert . . . — — Map (db m76653) HM
Summers County. Formed, 1871, from Monroe, Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer.
Named for the distinguished jurist of Kanawha, George W. Summers. Dr. Thomas Walker and companions explored the Greenbrier Valley, 1750, for the Greenbrier . . . — — Map (db m164749) HM
Summers County
Formed, 1871, from Monroe,
Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer.
Named for the distinguished
jurist of Kanawha, George W.
Summers. Dr. Thomas Walker
and companions explored the
Greenbrier Valley, 1750, for
the Greenbrier . . . — — Map (db m132552) HM
Fayette County. Formed in 1831 from Nicholas,
Greenbrier, Kanawha, Logan.
Named for General Lafayette.
On New River, 1671, Batts
and Fallam officially claimed
Mississippi Valley for Great
Britain in opposition to the
claim of France.
. . . — — Map (db m140573) HM
This ancient and spectacular river gorge, the rugged sandstone cliffs and overlooks, the unbroken, diverse Appalachian forest ecosystem, and the-hiStoric Bluestone Turnpike Trail, is protected as Bluestone National Scenic River. This publicly owned . . . — — Map (db m140104) HM
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River begins at an elevation of about 3,500 feet above sea level on East River Mountain, Tazewell County, Virginia. After flowing about 77 miles the river empties into the New River at an elevation of . . . — — Map (db m140101) HM
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River begins at an elevation of about 3,500 feet above sea level on East River Mountain, Tazewell County, Virginia. After flowing about 77 miles the river empties into the New River at an elevation of . . . — — Map (db m140102) HM
Farley's Fort
One of two pre-Revolutionary forts built along the banks of the New River at Culbertson's (now Crump's) Bottom to shelter area settlers. Farley's Fort was established by Thomas Farley in the mid-1770s. Virginia militia later . . . — — Map (db m140095) HM
1st frame church in the
area, located .8 mi, NW.
Built 1852 in the Greek
Revival style, Prominent
local brothers Gordon &
Thomas Jordan gave land
and lumber. Used by the
Methodists many years. — — Map (db m132566) HM
Summers County
Formed, 1871, from Monroe,
Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer.
Named for the distinguished
jurist of Kanawha, George W.
Summers. Dr. Thomas Walker
and companions explored the
Greenbrier Valley, 1750, for
the Greenbrier . . . — — Map (db m132567) HM
John "Buttermilk” W. Neely, Sr. (1780-1865) & Delilah Sweeney Neely (1784-1851) settled here in 1822 on 3,000
acres and reared 10 children. Property
comprised total area of Pipestem St.
Park. Nearby, Pipestem Knob is site of
former Neely . . . — — Map (db m166435) HM
Name derived from the hollow stemmed shrub
Spiraea alba which grows profusely along Big
and Little Pipestem creeks. The first white
man to see Pipestem was Christopher Gist,
1750, while exploring for the Ohio Land
Company. Shawnee . . . — — Map (db m132562) HM
When you top the steps of the tower,
you will be on Pipestem State Park's
highest point (3,000 feet) and facing east
across the Appalachian Plateau. Looking
through the gap in the mountains to the
southeast you see where New River and
the . . . — — Map (db m166437) HM
Before the coming of the railroad and the whitewater rafting industry, commerce along the New River was
carried by long, flat-bottomed boats called batteaux. The New River has always been an important travel
corridor through the rugged Appalachian . . . — — Map (db m179213) HM
Born 1909 in Summers County, she
learned to fly airplanes in 1933.
One of few women instructors in the
pre-WWII Civilian Flight Training
Program, during the war she was in
Women Airforce Service Pilots and a
Pentagon cryptologist. In 1946, . . . — — Map (db m179189) HM
Sandstone Visitor Center was constructed in 2003 to provide knowledge and information, inspiring a personal connection for visitors to New River Gorge National River and to our national park system. The site of the visitor center is an important . . . — — Map (db m100021) HM
William Richmond Homeplace. Near here was homestead of William Richmond (1752-1850). A veteran of he Revolution, he came here in 1799 likely as the first permanent white settler. The prolific family operated a ferry across the New River for . . . — — Map (db m229268) HM
This building, built in the Jenny Lin style, was
used by the railroad and the contractors during
the construction of the Big Bend Tunnel 1930-1932. It is the only remaining structure left standing
from that enterprise.
While it is unknown . . . — — Map (db m165170) HM
Near site of Fort Greenbrier, commanded by Capt. John Van Bibber during Indian raids in 1777. Here stands house built, 1772, by Col. James Graham, with walls pierced for rifle fire. Graham's son was killed and daughter captured by Indians. — — Map (db m76639) HM
The great tunnel of the C & O Railroad was started at Big Bend in 1870 and completed three years later. It is more than a mile long, and now has a twin tunnel. Tradition makes this the scene of the steel drivers' ballad, “John Henry.” — — Map (db m165372) HM
Great Bend Tunnel Construction
Construction of the Great Bend Tunnel aka the Big Bend Tunnel
began on 10 January 1870, tracks were laid 9 September -
12 September, 1872, and final completion of the tunnel was
in early 1873. The C&O . . . — — Map (db m165177) HM
Here stood a statue of John Henry erected by the Hilldale-Talcott Ruritan Club in 1972 on the 100th anniversary of his legendary steel-driving feat. The club cared for the statue until 2012 when the John Henry Historical Park Steering Committee . . . — — Map (db m211902) HM
There has been at least two railroad
trestles crossing Hungards Creek. The
one pictured is in the process of being
dismantled in preparation for one that will
accommodate a double track from Lowell
to the east end of the Great Bend . . . — — Map (db m165184) HM
This statue was erected in 1972,
by a group of people with the
same determination as the one it
honors. The Hilldale - Talcott
Ruritan Club chose this memorial
to mark a page of history, one
hundred (100) years after the
completion of the . . . — — Map (db m165182) HM
Listen to my story, ’Tis a story true,
Bout a mighty man,—John Henry was his name,
An’ John Henry was a steel-driver too,
Lawd — Lawd,
An’ John Henry was a steel-driver too.
John Henry was a . . . — — Map (db m165165) HM
North Arm of the
Greenbrier River
Becomes a Wetland Before the construction of the Great
Bend Tunnel, the north arm of the
Greenbrier River left the main river
approximately one half-mile southeast
of this location. It then meandered its . . . — — Map (db m165163) HM
This educational kiosk provides examples of the fictional John Henry as depicted by the entertainment
industry. Some are animated and some non-animated. While entertaining, they do not represent the
legend. The following are summaries of some of . . . — — Map (db m165180) HM
Summers County resident Aubrey Keaton made a significant contribution of railroad equipment, tools, and other memorabilia to the park in early 2005. Mr. Keaton began his career as a railroader in 1956 with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in . . . — — Map (db m211015) HM
Trustees
Thomas Harris •
Alexander Harris •
Dennis Haynes •
Those
Interned
Unknown Tunnel Workers Post 1876 •
Lena Brooks 1901-1953 •
Thomas Harris 1828-1905 •
Jennie V. Brooks 1898-1951 •
John Henry Mann 1862-1923 •
Baby . . . — — Map (db m165204) HM
The Ballad of John Henry
When John Henry was a little baby
No higher than his daddy's knee,
He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel
Saying, "Hammer's gonna to be the death of me, Lord, Lord,
Hammer's gonna . . . — — Map (db m165173) HM
Growing coal sales to foreign countries
in the early 20th Century created an
increase in the volume of train traffic
between the southern West Virginia coal fields
and the shipping ports in Virginia. Eventually,
the Great Bend Tunnel became . . . — — Map (db m165171) HM
The national coal heritage area
The Coal Heritage Trail, a national scenic byway, is located within the National Coal Heritage Area and winds through more than 187 rugged miles of scenic industrial heritage, where thousands of hard-working . . . — — Map (db m211901) HM