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
