1894 Map of Natural Bridge

About this map

Princess Furnace, Castle Furnace, and the Long Dale Mines anchor an industrial landscape where the iron and mineral trade shaped the terrain of western Virginia. This late-nineteenth-century reconnaissance survey follows the Jackson River and James River through a maze of steep ridges like Warm Spring Mtn and Rat Hole Mt. The presence of several furnace sites and the Victoria Mines alongside the Chesapeake and Ohio RR highlights an era of intensive extraction. Beyond industry, the map documents a culture of mountain resorts, with Hot Springs, Healing Springs, and Rockbridge Alum Sprs drawing visitors to the region's thermal waters. Genealogists can trace early connections at Zion Hill Ch or the Lick Run Ferry, providing a rare look at the valley's settlement pattern before modern development.