Natural Bridge is a large arch that is 215-foot-high and spans 90 feet. It was formed by Cedar Creek carving its way through limestone. It may have once been the roof of a large cave. George Washington was there as a young surveyor in 1750.
KOA Natural Bridge
We really enjoyed our site. It was huge and came with a patio that had a porch swing, table, fire ring, and a grill. The voltage and water were good. Cable was grainy but with a number of channels. Internet was barely usable….at 5 am before anyone else were up a page would load. The pool was still closed for the season. The recreation center was dated, moldy, and needed to be revised. But, we loved the site and its location near Natural Bridge and Monticello. They had a fenced dog park.
Natural Bridge
Thomas Jefferson in 1774 purchased the land from King George III for the equivalent of $2.40. Jefferson built a two room cabin, which he used as a retreat or for guests to stay. Some of the guests included Henry Clay, Sam Huston, Martin Van Buren and John Marshall. While President in 1802, Jefferson personally surveyed the area.
In 2013, Natural Bridge was to be sold in auction. It was purchased for $9 million dollars by the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund. Eventually, the State of Virginia managed it. There were flowers blooming along the trail.
It was nice to see Jack-in-the-pulpit.
A hotel, Natural Bridge Caverns, and Lace Waterfall are part of the park. The mile walk along the river was beautiful.
Lace Waterfall
This is a 50 foot waterfall. The headwaters for Cedar Creek originate in the Alleghany Mountains 180 miles away. Jake has become more curious since we have been traveling. He seems to enjoy just watching.
On our way back to the trailhead we came across another very long black rat snake basking in the afternoon sun on a rock wall.
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson loved his Monticello home. This is the back side of the house, which is the view on the nickel. The artist left out a couple of windows.
He was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence and died on July 4, 1826. Weird, but John Adams died the same day. James Monroe died on July 4, 1831. Its not all about President’s death on the 4th of July, Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. Jefferson’s life seemed to be about politics and education. He was the Secretary of State under George Washington, Vice President under John Adams, and 2 term President of the United States. Not even getting into his involvement in the state of Virginia. More interesting than all the bills, acts, laws, declarations, university, and Louisiana Purchase was that he loved to read in multiple languages, had a keen interest in religion and philosophy, and loved education, architecture, mathematics, and horticulture. His home was filled with fascinating and functional inventions. There was a wind direction indicator on the roof of the front porch that was attached to the weathervane on the roof.
Jefferson owned several plantations which were worked by hundreds of slaves.
This is a slave hut overlooking the gardens.
The views from Monticello are amazing. Jefferson inherited 5000 acres from his father which included Monticello at age 21. He treasured books. At one time he had almost 6,500 volumes. He sold more that 6,000 books to the Library of Congress for $23,950 to help with his large debt. Jefferson’s wife, Martha, died at the age of 33. After her parents died, Jefferson inherited their 11,000 acres, 135 slaves, and more financial headaches. He died at age 83 and deeply in debt. His life was absolutely amazing.
Jefferson was quite the wine aficionado. During his years spent in France, he visited many wineries and shipped numerous cases back to Virginia and his friends. He explored the numerous wine regions of Europe. He was quoted “in nothing have the habits of the palate more decisive influence than in our relish of wines” “Good wine is a necessity of life for me”. We enjoyed walking the grounds, taking in the beauty, history, and views.
Many historians believe that, after the death of his wife in 1782, he had an intimate long term relationship with his slave Sally Hemings. She was of mixed race, and Jefferson probably fathered six of her children. A DNA study in 1998 helped many historians to validate the relationship. Jefferson lived in a transitional time when slaves were needed to work the plantations. He professed equality and freedom to all and as a lawyer, he represented slaves in legal matters. It wasn’t until after Jefferson’s death that his daughter, Martha, gave Sally “her time” to eventually set Sally Hemings free. She lived her last 9 years freely in Charlottesville. Jefferson freed all of Hemings children. Equality and freedom can be so conditional and complicated. There are no known pictures of Sally, but one of Jefferson’s grandsons described her as “light colored and decidedly good looking.”
