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1894 Map of Natural Bridge

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Natural Bridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1926
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1926

About this map

The James River and Jackson River carve through the deep ridges of the Alleghenies in this late 19th-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by heavy industry and river-crossings. The region was a hub for iron production, evidenced by the scattered locations of the Calle Furnace, Glen Wilton Princess Furnace, and Long Dale Furnace. These industrial sites relied on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad to transport materials through narrow gaps in the mountains.

Local life centered around small post offices and crossings like Eagle Rock Breckenridge P.O. and the Lick Run Ferry. Genealogists may find interest in landmarks such as Zion Hill Ch. and family-named industrial sites like Hooks Mill or Waskeys Mill P.O.. The transition from rugged extraction to early conservation is signaled by the inclusion of the Shenandoah National Forest boundary, while natural landmarks like Saltpetre Cave and the many named knobs provide reference points for the area's complex topography.